Feasibility of incorporating all products of human waste processing into material cycling in the BTLSS
Publication date: August 2018Source: Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 18Author(s): Ye.A. Morozov, S.V. Trifonov, S.A. Ushakova, O.V. Anishchenko, A.A. TikhomirovAbstractThe present study addresses the ways to increase the closure of biotechnical life support systems (BTLSS) for space applications. A promising method of organic waste processing based on “wet combustion” in hydrogen peroxide developed at the IBP SB RAS to produce fertilizers for higher plants is discussed. The method is relatively compact, energy efficient, productive, and eco-friendly. However, about 4–6 g/L of recalcitrant sediment containin...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - July 5, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
A water-filled garment to protect astronauts during interplanetary missions tested on board the ISS
Publication date: August 2018Source: Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 18Author(s): G. Baiocco, M. Giraudo, L. Bocchini, S. Barbieri, I. Locantore, E. Brussolo, D. Giacosa, L. Meucci, S. Steffenino, A. Ballario, B. Barresi, R. Barresi, M. Benassai, L. Ravagnolo, L. Narici, A. Rizzo, E. Carrubba, F. Carubia, G. Neri, M. CrisconioAbstractAs manned spaceflights beyond low Earth orbit are in the agenda of Space Agencies, the concerns related to space radiation exposure of the crew are still without conclusive solutions. The risk of long-term detrimental health effects needs to be kept below acceptable limits, and emergen...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - July 5, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Comparison of space radiation GCR models to recent AMS data
Publication date: August 2018Source: Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 18Author(s): John W. Norbury, Kathryn Whitman, Kerry Lee, Tony C. Slaba, Francis F. BadaviAbstractThis paper is the third in a series of comparisons of American (NASA) and Russian (ROSCOSMOS) space radiation calculations. The present work focuses on calculation of fluxes of galactic cosmic rays (GCR), which are a constant source of radiation that constitutes one of the major hazards during deep space exploration missions for both astronauts/cosmonauts and hardware. In this work, commonly used GCR models are compared with recently published measure...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - July 5, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
A new method for the performance of external chest compressions during hypogravity simulation.
Discussion 2015 guidelines were achieved using the MR CPR method at 0.38Gz, with no significant difference with and without braces. Participants were closer to achieving the required ECC depth in the terrestrial position without braces. ECC depth was not achieved at 0.17Gz, due to a greater reduction in effective body weight. (Source: Life Sciences in Space Research)
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - July 1, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Comparison of space radiation GCR models to recent AMS data
Publication date: August 2018 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 18 Author(s): John W. Norbury, Kathryn Whitman, Kerry Lee, Tony C. Slaba, Francis F. Badavi This paper is the third in a series of comparisons of American (NASA) and Russian (ROSCOSMOS) space radiation calculations. The present work focuses on calculation of fluxes of galactic cosmic rays (GCR), which are a constant source of radiation that constitutes one of the major hazards during deep space exploration missions for both astronauts/cosmonauts and hardware. In this work, commonly used GCR models are compared with recently published measur...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - June 29, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Spatial resolution requirements for active radiation detectors used beyond low earth orbit
The objective of this study was to reduce coincident events while avoiding over-design and complexity. Monte Carlo simulations, using Geant4, were performed for 4He, 12C, 28Si and 56Fe ions at energies of 300, 900 and 2400 MeV/n incident upon aluminum shields having areal densities of 5.4, 13.5, and 54 g/cm2. The identity, energy and spatial distribution of all particles downstream from the shielding were analyzed using a novel approach based on proximity distributions. Results indicated that pixel dimensions on the order of 1 mm were sufficient to reduce errors caused by coincident events for active space radiation detect...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 31, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
The effect of competing risks on astronaut and cosmonaut mortality
In this study we tested the hypothesis that the reported reductions in mortality from natural causes result, to some degree, from survival bias created by early deaths from external causes. Statistical comparisons of baseline characteristics between cause-of-death groups showed no significant differences. Cause-specific survival curves showed no difference in long-term mortality from external causes among either astronauts or cosmonauts compared to Kaplan-Meier curves with censoring for competing causes. Cause-specific survival curves for natural causes suggested a possible upward bias in mortality estimates published thus...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 24, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Persistent depletion of plasma gelsolin (pGSN) after exposure of mice to heavy silicon ions
Publication date: May 2018 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 17 Author(s): Kanokporn Noy Rithidech, Paiboon Reungpatthanaphong, Montree Tungjai, Witawat Jangiam, Louise Honikel, Elbert B. Whorton Little is known about plasma proteins that can be used as biomarkers for early and late responses to radiation. The purpose of this study was to determine a link between depletion of plasma gelsolin (pGSN) and cell-death as well as inflammatory responses in the lung (one of the tissues known to be radiosensitive) of the same exposed CBA/CaJ mice after exposure to heavy silicon (28Si) ions. To prevent the devel...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 22, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Sequencing Nothing: Exploring Failure Modes of Nanopore Sensing and Implications for Life Detection
Publication date: Available online 16 May 2018 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research Author(s): Alexandra Pontefract, Julie Hachey, Maria T. Zuber, Gary Ruvkun, Christopher E. Carr The detection of extant life is a major focus of many planned future planetary missions, a current challenge of which is the ability to target biomarkers capable of providing unambiguous evidence of life. DNA sequencing is increasingly recognized as a powerful tool for life detection for planetary exploration missions; beyond use of sequence information to determine the origins of the sample (e.g., extant life or forward contamination), ...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 22, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Procedures for chemical fixation in immunohistochemical analyses of PIN proteins regulating polar auxin transport: Relevance to spaceflight experiments
In this study, adequate chemical fixatives and fixation protocols were developed, which can be used to detect localization of PsPIN1 and ZmPIN1a proteins in young etiolated pea and maize seedlings, respectively, using anti PsPIN1 and ZmPIN1a antibodies. These protocols can be used in spaceflight experiments to investigate the effects of the microgravity environment on the ISS on PIN protein localization in pea and maize seedlings. (Source: Life Sciences in Space Research)
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 22, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Feasibility of incorporating all products of human waste processing into material cycling in the BTLSS
Publication date: August 2018 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 18 Author(s): Ye.A. Morozov, S.V. Trifonov, S.A. Ushakova, O.V. Anishchenko, A.A. Tikhomirov The present study addresses the ways to increase the closure of biotechnical life support systems (BTLSS) for space applications. A promising method of organic waste processing based on “wet combustion” in hydrogen peroxide developed at the IBP SB RAS to produce fertilizers for higher plants is discussed. The method is relatively compact, energy efficient, productive, and eco-friendly. However, about 4–6 g/L of recalcitrant sediment containi...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 22, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Attachment of Turner's thick-toed geckos (Chondrodactylus turneri GRAY 1864) during weightlessness and their responses to flotation
Publication date: August 2018 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 18 Author(s): V.M. Barabanov, V.I. Gulimova, R.K. Berdiev, S.V. Saveliev We investigated the behavior of 15 female Turner's thick-toed geckos (Chondrodactylus turneri GRAY 1864) during a 30-day orbital experiment on the unmanned spacecraft “BION-M” No. 1. During weightlessness, the geckos maintained their ability to attach to the surfaces using the subdigital pads on their toes. On average, the geckos spent 99.9% of the time adhering to surfaces during the flight and only 0.1% floating freely. The active geckos, when starting to float, i...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 22, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
The influence of nitrogen concentration and precipitation on fertilizer production from urine using a trickling filter
This study describes a 646 day experiment, in which trickling filters were monitored for their ability to mineralize nitrogen when loaded with artificial urine solutions of different concentrations (40, 60, 80 and 100% v/v). Former studies have indicated that increasing urine concentrations slow nitrogen conversion rates and induce growing instability. In the current experiment, nitrogen conversion rates, measured as nitrate production/day, did not differ between concentration levels and increasing instability was not observed. Instead, the buffering capacity of the mussel shells added as buffer system (∼75% calcium carb...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 22, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
A water-filled garment to protect astronauts during interplanetary missions tested on board the ISS
Publication date: August 2018 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 18 Author(s): G. Baiocco, M. Giraudo, L. Bocchini, S. Barbieri, I. Locantore, E. Brussolo, D. Giacosa, L. Meucci, S. Steffenino, A. Ballario, B. Barresi, R. Barresi, M. Benassai, L. Ravagnolo, L. Narici, A. Rizzo, E. Carrubba, F. Carubia, G. Neri, M. Crisconio, S. Piccirillo, G. Valentini, S. Barbero, M. Giacci, C. Lobascio, A. Ottolenghi As manned spaceflights beyond low Earth orbit are in the agenda of Space Agencies, the concerns related to space radiation exposure of the crew are still without conclusive solutions. ...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - May 22, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Acute Exposure to Space Flight Results in Evidence of Reduced Lymph Transport, Tissue Fluid Shifts, and Immune Alterations in the Rat Gastrointestinal System
Publication date: Available online 28 March 2018 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research Author(s): W.E. Cromer, D.C. Zaweija Space flight causes a number of alterations in physiological systems, changes in the immunological status of subjects, and altered interactions of the host to environmental stimuli. We studied the effect of space flight on the lymphatic system of the gastrointestinal tract which is responsible for lipid transport and immune surveillance which includes the host interaction with the gut microbiome. We found that there were signs of tissue damage present in the space flown animals that was lacking i...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - March 29, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
