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A functional 10×10 reflectarray antenna is developed for millimeter-waves. It has a gain of approximately 10 dBi and a continuous steering range from −30 to 30∘ in the horizontal plane. In this paper, the entire design process is explained, beginning with the design and function of the antenna element and followed by considerations regarding positioning of the feed antenna. Steering and controlling of the beam are discussed. Finally, the antenna patterns for different steering angles were measured in an anechoic chamber. The design is scalable, built with commercial off-the-shelf components, and the array does not need active cooling.

Fitting the isotopic composition of lunar rocks to a new thermal and crystallization model shows the Moon formed 4.40 to 4.45 Ga., A giant impact onto Earth led to the formation of the Moon, resulted in a lunar magma ocean (LMO), and initiated the last event of core segregation on Earth. However, the timing and temporal link of these events remain uncertain. Here, we demonstrate that the low thermal conductivity of the lunar crust combined with heat extraction by partial melting of deep cumulates undergoing convection results in an LMO solidification time scale of 150 to 200 million years. Combining this result with a crystallization model of the LMO and with the ages and isotopic compositions of lunar samples indicates that the Moon formed 4.425 ± 0.025 billion years ago. This age is in remarkable agreement with the U-Pb age of Earth, demonstrating that the U-Pb age dates the final segregation of Earth’s core.

Return of samples from the surface of Mars has been a goal of the international Mars science community for many years. Affirmation by NASA and ESA of the importance of Mars exploration led the agencies to establish the international MSR Objectives and Samples Team (iMOST). The purpose of the team is to re-evaluate and update the sample-related science and engineering objectives of a Mars Sample Return (MSR) campaign. The iMOST team has also undertaken to define the measurements and the types of samples that can best address the objectives. Seven objectives have been defined for MSR, traceable through two decades of previously published international priorities. The first two objectives are further divided into sub-objectives. Within the main part of the report, the importance to science and/or engineering of each objective is described, critical measurements that would address the objectives are specified, and the kinds of samples that would be most likely to carry key information are identified. These seven objectives provide a framework for demonstrating how the first set of returned Martian samples would impact future Martian science and exploration. They also have implications for how analogous investigations might be conducted for samples returned by future missions from other solar system bodies, especially those that may harbor biologically relevant or sensitive material, such as Ocean Worlds (Europa, Enceladus, Titan) and others. Summary of Objectives and Sub-Objectives for MSR Identified by iMOST: Objective 1 Interpret the primary geologic processes and history that formed the Martian geologic record, with an emphasis on the role of water. Intent To investigate the geologic environment(s) represented at the Mars 2020 landing site, provide definitive geologic context for collected samples, and detail any characteristics that might relate to past biologic processesThis objective is divided into five sub-objectives that would apply at different landing sites. 1.1 Characterize the essential stratigraphic, sedimentologic, and facies variations of a sequence of Martian sedimentary rocks. Intent To understand the preserved Martian sedimentary record. Samples A suite of sedimentary rocks that span the range of variation. Importance Basic inputs into the history of water, climate change, and the possibility of life 1.2 Understand an ancient Martian hydrothermal system through study of its mineralization products and morphological expression. Intent To evaluate at least one potentially life-bearing “habitable” environment Samples A suite of rocks formed and/or altered by hydrothermal fluids. Importance Identification of a potentially habitable geochemical environment with high preservation potential. 1.3 Understand the rocks and minerals representative of a deep subsurface groundwater environment. Intent To evaluate definitively the role of water in the subsurface. Samples Suites of rocks/veins representing water/rock interaction in the subsurface. Importance May constitute the longest-lived habitable environments and a key to the hydrologic cycle. 1.4 Understand water/rock/atmosphere interactions at the Martian surface and how they have changed with time. Intent To constrain time-variable factors necessary to preserve records of microbial life. Samples Regolith, paleosols, and evaporites. Importance Subaerial near-surface processes could support and preserve microbial life. 1.5 Determine the petrogenesis of Martian igneous rocks in time and space. Intent To provide definitive characterization of igneous rocks on Mars. Samples Diverse suites of ancient igneous rocks. Importance Thermochemical record of the planet and nature of the interior. Objective 2 Assess and interpret the potential biological history of Mars, including assaying returned samples for the evidence of life. Intent To investigate the nature and extent of Martian habitability, the conditions and processes that supported or challenged life, how different environments might have influenced the preservation of biosignatures and created nonbiological “mimics,” and to look for biosignatures of past or present life.This objective has three sub-objectives: 2.1 Assess and characterize carbon, including possible organic and pre-biotic chemistry. Samples All samples collected as part of Objective 1. Importance Any biologic molecular scaffolding on Mars would likely be carbon-based. 2.2 Assay for the presence of biosignatures of past life at sites that hosted habitable environments and could have preserved any biosignatures. Samples All samples collected as part of Objective 1. Importance Provides the means of discovering ancient life. 2.3 Assess the possibility that any life forms detected are alive, or were recently alive. Samples All samples collected as part of Objective 1. Importance Planetary protection, and arguably the most important scientific discovery possible. Objective 3 Quantitatively determine the evolutionary timeline of Mars. Intent To provide a radioisotope-based time scale for major events, including magmatic, tectonic, fluvial, and impact events, and the formation of major sedimentary deposits and geomorphological features. Samples Ancient igneous rocks that bound critical stratigraphic intervals or correlate with crater-dated surfaces. Importance Quantification of Martian geologic history. Objective 4 Constrain the inventory of Martian volatiles as a function of geologic time and determine the ways in which these volatiles have interacted with Mars as a geologic system. Intent To recognize and quantify the major roles that volatiles (in the atmosphere and in the hydrosphere) play in Martian geologic and possibly biologic evolution. Samples Current atmospheric gas, ancient atmospheric gas trapped in older rocks, and minerals that equilibrated with the ancient atmosphere. Importance Key to understanding climate and environmental evolution. Objective 5 Reconstruct the processes that have affected the origin and modification of the interior, including the crust, mantle, core and the evolution of the Martian dynamo. Intent To quantify processes that have shaped the planet's crust and underlying structure, including planetary differentiation, core segregation and state of the magnetic dynamo, and cratering. Samples Igneous, potentially magnetized rocks (both igneous and sedimentary) and impact-generated samples. Importance Elucidate fundamental processes for comparative planetology. Objective 6 Understand and quantify the potential Martian environmental hazards to future human exploration and the terrestrial biosphere. Intent To define and mitigate an array of health risks related to the Martian environment associated with the potential future human exploration of Mars. Samples Fine-grained dust and regolith samples. Importance Key input to planetary protection planning and astronaut health. Objective 7 Evaluate the type and distribution of in-situ resources to support potential future Mars exploration. Intent To quantify the potential for obtaining Martian resources, including use of Martian materials as a source of water for human consumption, fuel production, building fabrication, and agriculture. Samples Regolith. Importance Production of simulants that will facilitate long-term human presence on Mars. Summary of iMOST Findings: Several specific findings were identified during the iMOST study. While they are not explicit recommendations, we suggest that they should serve as guidelines for future decision making regarding planning of potential future MSR missions. The samples to be collected by the Mars 2020 (M-2020) rover will be of sufficient size and quality to address and solve a wide variety of scientific questions. Samples, by definition, are a statistical representation of a larger entity. Our ability to interpret the source geologic units and processes by studying sample sub sets is highly dependent on the quality of the sample context. In the case of the M-2020 samples, the context is expected to be excellent, and at multiple scales. (A) Regional and planetary context will be established by the on-going work of the multi-agency fleet of Mars orbiters. (B) Local context will be established at field area- to outcrop- to hand sample- to hand lens scale using the instruments carried by M-2020. A significant fraction of the value of the MSR sample collection would come from its organization into sample suites, which are small groupings of samples designed to represent key aspects of geologic or geochemical variation. If the Mars 2020 rover acquires a scientifically well-chosen set of samples, with sufficient geological diversity, and if those samples were returned to Earth, then major progress can be expected on all seven of the objectives proposed in this study, regardless of the final choice of landing site. The specifics of which parts of Objective 1 could be achieved would be different at each of the final three candidate landing sites, but some combination of critically important progress could be made at any of them. An aspect of the search for evidence of life is that we do not know in advance how evidence for Martian life would be preserved in the geologic record. In order for the returned samples to be most useful for both understanding geologic processes (Objective 1) and the search for life (Objective 2), the sample collection should contain BOTH typical and unusual samples from the rock units explored. This consideration should be incorporated into sample selection and the design of the suites. The retrieval missions of a MSR campaign should (1) minimize stray magnetic fields to which the samples would be exposed and carry a magnetic witness plate to record exposure, (2) collect and return atmospheric gas sample(s), and (3) collect additional dust and/or regolith sample mass if possible.

In 2002, the World Health Organization (WHO) gave high priority to ambient air pollution and estimated that it may be responsible for 1.4% of all deaths, as well as for a 0.8% decrease in the sum total of global life years. Besides, atmospheric pollutants are directly transferred to rivers and seas, among others, by means of the rain, carrying this problem forward to other ecosystems.

The MPI‐ESM1.2 is the latest version of the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model and is the baseline for the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 and current seasonal and decadal climate predictions. This paper evaluates a coupled higher‐resolution version (MPI‐ESM1.2‐HR) in comparison with its lower‐resolved version (MPI‐ESM1.2‐LR). We focus on basic oceanic and atmospheric mean states and selected modes of variability, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation and the North Atlantic Oscillation. The increase in atmospheric resolution in MPI‐ESM1.2‐HR reduces the biases of upper‐level zonal wind and atmospheric jet stream position in the northern extratropics. This results in a decrease of the storm track bias over the northern North Atlantic, for both winter and summer season. The blocking frequency over the European region is improved in summer, and North Atlantic Oscillation and related storm track variations improve in winter. Stable Atlantic meridional overturning circulations are found with magnitudes of ~16 Sv for MPI‐ESM1.2‐HR and ~20 Sv for MPI‐ESM1.2‐LR at 26°N. A strong sea surface temperature bias of ~5°C along with a too zonal North Atlantic current is present in both versions. The sea surface temperature bias in the eastern tropical Atlantic is reduced by ~1°C due to higher‐resolved orography in MPI‐ESM‐HR, and the region of the cold‐tongue bias is reduced in the tropical Pacific. MPI‐ESM1.2‐HR has a well‐balanced radiation budget and its climate sensitivity is explicitly tuned to 3 K. Although the obtained reductions in long‐standing biases are modest, the improvements in atmospheric dynamics make this model well suited for prediction and impact studies.

In this paper we describe the design of an exposure setup used to study possible non-thermal effects due to the exposure of human hematopoietic stem cells to GSM, UMTS and LTE mobile communication signals. The experiments are performed under fully blinded conditions in a TEM waveguide located inside an incubator to achieve defined environmental conditions as required for the living cells. Chamber slides containing the cells in culture medium are placed on the septum of the waveguide. The environmental and exposure parameters such as signal power, temperatures, relative humidity and CO2 content of the surrounding atmosphere are monitored permanently during the exposure experiment. The power of the exposure signals required to achieve specific absorption rates of 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 W kg−1 are determined by numerical calculation of the field distribution inside the cell culture medium at 900 MHz (GSM), 1950 MHz (UMTS) and 2535 MHz (LTE). The dosimetry is verified both with scattering parameter measurements on the waveguide with and without containers filled with cell culture medium and with temperature measurements with non-metallic probes in separate heating experiments.

INTRODUCTION Parents are responsible for the therapy and prognosis of their child with diabetes. Thus a structured initial education covering medical and psychosocial aspects of diabetes for parents offered by a multidisciplinary paediatric diabetes team is essential. METHODS Quality of educational process and outcomes were assessed in 10 German paediatric diabetes units with parents of 81 children (4-14 yrs). A structured diabetes education programme for parents was used. Outcome parameters were parental satisfaction with education, diabetes knowledge (DWT: Typ1), children's quality of metabolic control and health related quality of life (QoL) (KINDL-R) and both parents' well-being (WHO-5) at onset (t0) and 6 (t1) and 12 (t2) months later. RESULTS On average 30.6 ± 10.1 lessons were required. Parents were highly satisfied with the education. Their diabetes knowledge at t0 and t1 exceeded the T-norms of the best educated adult patients. Children's QoL at t1 and t2, assessed by their parents, didn't differ from representative healthy norms. Mean HbA1c at t1 was 6.8 ± 1.0% and 7.2 ± 1.2% at t2. Compared to standard values of WHO-5 mothers' psychological well-being was poor. Scores < 13 (indicating depression) were seen at 50% (t0), 41% (t1) and 29% (t2) of the mothers. DISCUSSION The comprehensive diabetes education leads to high levels of diabetes knowledge and satisfaction with care. 12 months after diabetes onset the target of metabolic control (HbA1c < 7.5%) was met by 71% of the children, while their QoL was good. However, the great psychological burden of mothers at onset indicates their need for ongoing specialized care.

The PTB currently develops a special coordinate measuring machine (μCMM) for three-dimensional metrology on microsystem components. This μCMM is aimed at a measurement uncertainty of 3D-coordinates of

A three-axial tactile force sensor for the investigation of micromechanical structures has been developed using silicon micromachining technology. The sensor is capable of performing mechanical micro material characterisation such as the determination of the spring constant of complex micromechanical structures. Another application for this sensor is dimensional metrology where it has been tested as a 3D probe in a test set-up for coordinate measurements.

The UN, and especially the High Commissioner for Human Rights, faces a dilemma in its need to hold governments accountable for performance on human rights issues while maintaining good relations to keep channels open for diplomacy and influence. This chapter first describes a selection of the activities implemented by Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the course of its technical cooperation program with China, to familiarize readers with the objectives and its impact. It then identifies challenges faced both by the High Commissioner and OHCHR in carrying out the program and discusses how these were tackled. It concludes with an analysis of the High Commissioner’s performance in balancing the responsibility to both engage with and criticize the Chinese government. Keywords:China; OHCHR; United Nations

Parents are responsible for the therapy and prognosis of their child with diabetes. Thus a structured initial education covering medical and psychosocial aspects of diabetes for parents offered by a multidisciplinary paediatric diabetes team is essential.Quality of educational process and outcomes were assessed in 10 German paediatric diabetes units with parents of 81 children (4-14 yrs). A structured diabetes education programme for parents was used. Outcome parameters were parental satisfaction with education, diabetes knowledge (DWT: Typ1), children's quality of metabolic control and health related quality of life (QoL) (KINDL-R) and both parents' well-being (WHO-5) at onset (t0) and 6 (t1) and 12 (t2) months later.On average 30.6 ± 10.1 lessons were required. Parents were highly satisfied with the education. Their diabetes knowledge at t0 and t1 exceeded the T-norms of the best educated adult patients. Children's QoL at t1 and t2, assessed by their parents, didn't differ from representative healthy norms. Mean HbA1c at t1 was 6.8 ± 1.0% and 7.2 ± 1.2% at t2. Compared to standard values of WHO-5 mothers' psychological well-being was poor. Scores13 (indicating depression) were seen at 50% (t0), 41% (t1) and 29% (t2) of the mothers.The comprehensive diabetes education leads to high levels of diabetes knowledge and satisfaction with care. 12 months after diabetes onset the target of metabolic control (HbA1c7.5%) was met by 71% of the children, while their QoL was good. However, the great psychological burden of mothers at onset indicates their need for ongoing specialized care.

The coding region for human neutrophil short form procollagenase lacking the hemopexin like domain coding region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Recombinant short form procollagenase was expressed in E. coli and purified in a three step procedure. Renaturation of this proenzyme was carried out by an effective new method using Q-Sepharose chromatography. Treatment of short form procollagenase with mercurials resulted in active short form collagenase M(r) 21,000 and an intermediate product of M(r) 23,000. These two products were separated by hydroxamate affinity chromatography. The active, short form collagenase M(r) 21,000 is stable. Despite full proteolytic activity, it lacks type I collagen substrate specificity and forms the basis for crystallisation experiments.

In Piesiewicz et al., (2005), we proposed an efficient method to model reflective properties of smooth building materials at THz frequencies. It is based on Fresnel equations, which are applied to measured material parameters to account for frequency dependence. However, this technique is adequate for smooth materials only as it neglects scattering losses.The method can be extended to rough materials with Kirchoff theory of scattering from rough surfaces. In order to account for scattering losses in the specular direction, the reflection coefficient, derived from Fresnel equations can be multiplied with a Rayleigh roughness factor. This factor can be obtained from measured surface roughness data of the investigated material. Here, we show the model and direct reflection measurements for a set of angles of incidence for two common rough building materials: ingrain wallpaper and concrete plaster.

Human leucocyte collagenase is one member of the growing protein family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) [Knauper et al., 1990]. It is a calcium-containing Zn-endoproteinase (MMP-8) that cleaves preferentially interstitial native triple-helical type I but also type II and type III collagen into one-quarter and three quarter fragments of the native chain length. If thus differs from the fibroblast interstitial collagenase that preferentially cleaves type III. About one-third of its mass of 65 kDa (for active enzyme) is carbohydrates in contrast to the homologous interstitial collagenase from fibroblasts which carries only a small carbohydrate portion [Tschesche et al., 1992]. The enzyme is stored in the specific granules of granulocytes and is released as a proenzyme, also designated latent enzyme, upon stimulation of the cells by various chemotactic agents, such as formylpeptides, LTB4, C5a, Fla and Zymosan amongst others, [Tschesche et al., 1989 and 1991]. Extracellular activation is then achieved by various different proteinases, such as trypsin, kallikrein, chymotrypsin, cathepsin G [Tschesche et al., 1992] or stromelysin [Knauper et al., 1993]. However, the physiological process of activation is not yet fully understood, since activation was also observed by isolated leucocyte membranes [Tschesche unpublished].

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc endopeptidases involved in tissue remodeling. They have also been implicated in various disease processes including tumour invasion and joint destruction and are therefore attractive targets for inhibitor design. For rational drug design, information of inhibitor binding at the atomic level is essential. Recently, we have published the refined high-resolution crystal structure of the catalytic domain of human neutrophil collagenase (HNC) complexed with the inhibitor Pro-Leu-Gly-NHOH, which is a mimic for the unprimed (P3-P1) residues of a bound peptide substrate. We have now determined two additional HNC complexes formed with the thiol inhibitor HSCH2CH(CH2Ph)CO-L-Ala-Gly-NH2 and another hydroxamate inhibitor, HONHCOCH(iBu)CO-L-Ala-Gly-NH2, which were both refined to R -values of 0.183/0.198 at 0.240/0.225-nm resolution. The inhibitor thiol and hydroxamate groups ligand the catalytic zinc, giving rise to a slightly distorted tetrahedral and trigonal-bipyramidal coordination sphere, respectively. The thiol inhibitor diastereomer with 5-configura-tion at the PI′ residue (corresponding to an L-amino acid analog) binds to HNC. Its peptidyl moiety mimics binding of primed (PI′–P3′) residues of the substrate. In combination with our first structure a continuous hexapeptide corresponding to a peptide substrate productively bound to HNC was constructed and energy-minimized. Proteolytic cleavage of this Michaelis complex is probably general base-catalyzed as proposed for thermolysin, i.e. a glutamate assists nucleophilic attack of a water molecule. Although there are many structural and mechanistic similarities to thermolysin, substrate binding to MMPs differs due to the interactions beyond S1′-P1′. While thermolysin binds substrates with a kink at PI′, substrates are bound in an extended conformation in the collagenases. This property explains the tolerance of theimolysin for D-amino acid residues at the PI′ position, in contrast to the collagenases. The third inhibitor, HONHCOCH(iBu)CO-L-Ala-Gly-NH2, unexpectedly binds in a different manner than anticipated from its design and binding mode in thermolysin. Its hydroxamate group obviously interacts with the catalytic zinc in a favourable bidentate manner, but in contrast its isobutyl (iBu) side chain remains outside of the SI′ pocket, presumably due to severe constraints imposed by the adjacent planar hydroxamate group. Instead, the C-terminal Ala-Gly-NH2 tail adopts a bent conformation and inserts into this SI′ pocket, presumably in a non-optimized manner. Both the isobutyl side chain and the C-terminal peptide tail could be replaced by other, better fitting groups. Thus this inhibitor seems to represent a new lead structure suitable for designing better drugs.

TIMP-1 is a member of the family of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases involved in regulating the activity of extracellular matrix degrading metalloproteinases. The TIMP-1 cDNA was obtained by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of the corresponding mRNA from human fibroblasts. Cloning and expression of the TIMP-1 cDNA were performed in Escherichia coli. In the host vector system chosen, rTIMP-1 is stored intracellularly in its denatured, insoluble form in inclusion bodies. We report a new method for the purification and renaturation of rTIMP-1 from E. coli inclusion bodies to an active inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (80% yield), presumably containing the correct assignment of the six disulfide bonds. A resin with the covalently bound recombinant catalytic domain of the PMNL-collagenase as the affinity ligand provided an effective means for the separation of correctly folded, active rTIMP-1 from inactive forms with mismatched disulfides. TIMP-1 and TIMP-2, the two most extensively examined members of the family of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, are known to form a complex with the activated forms of most matrix metalloproteinases and the latent forms of the 92-kDa and 72-kDa gelatinases, respectively. In this study, we report on the complex formation of the recombinant catalytic domain of the PMNL-collagenase with TIMP-1, nonglycosylated recombinant TIMP-1, and recombinant TIMP-2. The K(i) values for the different inhibitors were determined in a kinetic assay using a fluorogenic substrate peptide. In this assay, rTIMP-2 had a more effective inhibitory capability against the recombinant catalytic domain of the PMNL-collagenase than TIMP-1. As for the PMNL-collagenase, the N-terminal catalytic domain is sufficient for enzyme-inhibitor interaction and binding.

Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 70 (18 / Supplement), ISSN:0016-7037, ISSN:1872-9533

An analysis of the 2796 visual observations as well as of 282 V, B or U photoelectric observations was carried out using a two-parametric model for the light curve of the comet. After having applied an aperture correction to the visual observations, the following photometric parameters were derived: before perihelion n = 2.5, after perihelion n = 3.6 and a drop of m0 by 1.5 -1.9 after the perihelion passage. From the UBV photoelectric data the coma was found to be more gaseous before the perihelion passage.