Forces Associated with Launch into Space do not Impact Bone Fracture Healing
Publication date: Available online 11 November 2017 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research Author(s): Paul Childress, Alexander Brinker, Cynthia-May S. Gong, Jonathan Harris, David J. Olivos, Jeffrey D. Rytlewski, David C. Scofield, Sungshin Y. Choi, Yasaman Shirazi-Fard, Todd O. McKinley, Tien-Min G. Chu, Carolynn L. Conley, Nabarun Chakraborty, Rasha Hammamieh, Melissa A. Kacena Segmental bone defects (SBDs) secondary to trauma invariably result in a prolonged recovery with an extended period of limited weight bearing on the affected limb. Soldiers sustaining blast injuries and civilians sustaining high ...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - November 13, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Exposure to microgravity for 30 days onboard Bion M1 caused muscle atrophy and impaired regeneration in murine femoral Quadriceps
Publication date: February 2018 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 16 Author(s): E.A. Radugina, E.A.C. Almeida, E. Blaber, V.A. Poplinskaya, Y.V. Markitantova, E.N. Grigoryan Mechanical unloading in microgravity during spaceflight is known to cause muscular atrophy, changes in muscle fiber composition, gene expression, and reduction in regenerative muscle growth. Although some limited data exists for long-term effects of microgravity in human muscle, these processes have mostly been studied in rodents for short periods of time. Here we report on how long-term (30-day long) mechanical unloading in microg...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - November 6, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
An innovative in vitro device providing continuous low doses of γ-rays mimicking exposure to the space environment: a dosimetric study
In conclusion, we have elaborated an innovative device allowing chronic radiation exposure to be combined with altered gravity. Given the limited access to the International Space Station, this device could be useful to researchers interested in the field of space biology. (Source: Life Sciences in Space Research)
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - October 31, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Microgels for Long-Term Storage of Vitamins for Extended Spaceflight
This study showed that PVCL microgels drastically improve the water solubility of hydrophobic retinol. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the highly crosslinked microgel particles in aqueous solution can be utilised to greatly retard the light- and temperature-induced isomerisation process of retinol by a factor of almost 100 compared to pure retinol stored in ethanol. The use of microgels offers various advantages over other drug delivery systems as they exhibit enhanced biocompatibility and superior aqueous solubility. (Source: Life Sciences in Space Research)
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - October 24, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Spacecraft cabin environment effects on the growth and behavior of chlorella vulgaris for life support applications
Publication date: Available online 16 October 2017 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research Author(s): Tobias Niederwieser, Patrick Kociolek, David Klaus An Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) is necessary for humans to survive in the hostile environment of space. As future missions move beyond Earth orbit for extended durations, reclaiming human metabolic waste streams for recycled use becomes increasingly important. Historically, these functions have been accomplished using a variety of physical and chemical processes with limited recycling capabilities. In contrast, biological systems can also be in...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - October 17, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Developing a technique to enhance durability of fibrous ion-exchange resin substrate for space greenhouses
We describe a two-stage treatment of BIONA-V3TM including primary microwave heating of the used FIERS untill (90±5)°C in alkali-peroxide solution during 3.5 hrs. The second stage of the treatment is decomposition of root vestiges inside pores of BIONA-V3TM by using thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic bacteria Clostridium thermocellum, Clostridium cellulolyticum and Cellulosilyticum lentocellum during 7-10 days at 55°C. The two-stage procedure allows extraction of 90% dead roots from the FIERS’ pores and the preservation of root zone hydro-physical properties. A posterior enrichment of the FIERS by minerals makes BIO...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - October 11, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Effects of high-intensity static magnetic fields on a root-based bioreactor system for space applications
Publication date: Available online 28 September 2017 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research Author(s): Maria Elena Villani, Silvia Massa, Vanni Lopresto, Rosanna Pinto, Anna Maria Salzano, Andrea Scaloni, Eugenio Benvenuto, Angiola Desiderio Static magnetic fields created by superconducting magnets have been proposed as an effective solution to protect spacecrafts and planetary stations from cosmic radiations. This shield can deflect high-energy particles exerting injurious effects on living organisms, including plants. In fact, plant systems are becoming increasingly interesting for space adaptation studies, bei...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - September 29, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Growth in spaceflight hardware results in alterations to the transcriptome and proteome
Publication date: Available online 21 September 2017 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research Author(s): Proma Basu, Colin P.S. Kruse, Darron R. Luesse, Sarah E. Wyatt The Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) hardware has been used to house many biology experiments on both the Space Transport System (STS, commonly known as the space shuttle) and the International Space Station (ISS). However, microscopic examination of Arabidopsis seedlings by Johnson et al. (2015) indicated the hardware itself may affect cell morphology. The experiment herein was designed to assess the effects of the BRIC-Petri Dish Fixation Units...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - September 22, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
IN MEMORIAM Takeo Ohnishi 1944-2017
Publication date: August 2017 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 14 Author(s): Tom K. Hei, Marco Durante, Frank Cucinotta, Jack Miller (Source: Life Sciences in Space Research)
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - September 20, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Exposure to microgravity for 30 days onboard Bion M1 caused muscle atrophy and decreased regeneration in murine femoral Quadriceps
Publication date: Available online 24 August 2017 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research Author(s): E.A. Radugina, E.A.C. Almeida, E. Blaber, V.A. Poplinskaya, Y.V. Markitantova, E.N. Grigoryan Mechanical unloading in microgravity during spaceflight is known to cause muscular atrophy, changes in muscle fiber composition, gene expression, and reductions in regenerative muscle growth. Although some limited data exists for long-term effects of microgravity in human muscle, these processes have mostly been studied in rodents for short periods of time. Here we report on how long-term (30-day long) mechanical unloading i...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - August 25, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Mimicking the effects of spaceflight on bone: Combined effects of disuse and chronic low-dose rate radiation exposure on bone mass in mice
This study was designed to investigate the skeletal effects of low-dose rate gamma irradiation (8.5 cGy gamma radiation per day for 20 days, amounting to a total dose of 1.7 Gy) when administered simultaneously to disuse from HLS. The goal was to determine whether continuous, low-dose rate radiation administered during disuse would exacerbate bone loss in a murine HLS model. Four groups of 16 week old female C57BL/6 mice were studied: weight bearing + no radiation (WB+NR), HLS + NR, WB + radiation exposure (WB+RAD), and HLS+RAD. Surprisingly, although HLS led to cortical and trabecular bone loss, concurrent...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - August 18, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Exploring innovative radiation shielding approaches in space: a material and design study for a wearable radiation protection spacesuit
We present a design study for a wearable radiation-shielding spacesuit, designed to protect astronauts’ most radiosensitive organs. The suit could be used in an emergency, to perform necessary interventions outside a radiation shelter in the space habitat in case of a Solar Proton Event (SPE). A wearable shielding system of the kind we propose has the potential to prevent the onset of acute radiation effects in this scenario. In this work, selection of materials for the spacesuit elements is performed based on the results of dedicated GRAS/Geant4 1-dimensional Monte Carlo simulations, and after a trade-off analysis betwe...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - August 9, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
T cell resistance to activation by dendritic cells requires long-term culture in simulated microgravity
This study tested the response of an ovalbumin peptide-specific T cell line, OT-II TCH, to activation by DC when the T cells were cultured 24-120 h in a simulated microgravity (SMG) environment generated by a rotary cell culture system. Following 72 h culture of T cells in SMG (SMG-T) or control static (Static-T) conditions, IL-2 production by the T cells was reduced in SMG-T cells compared to Static-T cells upon stimulation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin. However, when the SMG-T cells were stimulated with DC and peptide, IL-2 was significantly increased compared to Static-T cells. Such enhanced IL-...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - August 8, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Radiation Transport Simulation of the Martian GCR Surface Flux and Dose Estimation using Spherical Geometry in PHITS Compared to MSL-RAD measurements
Publication date: Available online 27 July 2017 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research Author(s): John Flores-McLaughlin Planetary bodies and spacecraft are predominantly exposed to isotropic radiation environments that are subject to transport and interaction in various material compositions and geometries. Specifically, the Martian surface radiation environment is composed of galactic cosmic radiation, secondary particles produced by their interaction with the Martian atmosphere, albedo particles from the Martian regolith and occasional solar particle events. Despite this complex physical environment with potentially ...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - July 28, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
A calculation of the radiation environment on the martian surface
Publication date: Available online 26 July 2017 Source:Life Sciences in Space Research Author(s): Wouter C. de Wet, Lawrence W. Townsend In this work, the radiation environment on the Martian surface, as produced by galactic cosmic radiation incident on the atmosphere, is modeled using the Monte Carlo radiation transport code, High Energy Transport Code – Human Exploration and Development in Space (HETC-HEDS). This work is performed in participation of the 2016 Mars Space Radiation Modeling Workshop held in Boulder, CO, and is part of a larger collaborative effort to study the radiation environment on the surface of ...
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - July 27, 2017 Category: Biology Source Type: research
