The effects of simulated microgravity on the seminiferous tubules of rats

Space flight has been shown to have many adverse effects on various systems throughout the body. Because the opportunity to place research animals on board a Space Shuttle or the International Space Station is infrequent, various techniques have been designed to simulate the effects of microgravity in Earth based laboratories. A commonly used technique is known as antiorthostatic suspension, also often referred to as hind limb suspension. In this technique the hind portion of the animal is raised so that its hind limbs are non-weight bearing. This places the animal in roughly a 30° head down tilt position. This results in cephalic fluid shifts similar to those seen in actual space flight. This technique has also been shown to mimic other physiological parameters that are affected during space flight. This study examined testicular tissue from rats subjected to a 7 day antiorthostatic suspension. This tissue was acquired through a tissue sharing program and some of the experimental animals were injected with Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) which was hoped to ameliorate some of the effects of antiorthostatic suspension. The injection of IL-1ra was not expected to have any effect on testicular tissue, however this tissue was included in the morphological and statistical analysis to conduct a more complete study. All tissues were embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and stained using standard H&E staining. The tissue was then qualitatively ranked according to the “health” of the seminiferous tubules. Our findings indicate that 7 days of antiorthostatic suspension had adverse effects on the tissue that comprises the walls of the seminiferous tubules. It has long been known that antiorthostatic suspension has deleterious effects on testicular tissue, however this research indicates that these effects occur much faster than indicated by previous researchers. This is a significant finding because it indicates that meaningful earth based studies in this area can be carried out in a shorter time span. This could result in more studies per year as well as saving money by avoiding longer than necessary animal suspensions. This is especially important as we enter an era when, without Space Shuttle, flight opportunities will become scarce. These antiorthostatic suspension studies indicate that space flight, even short duration spaceflight, may have harmful effects on the seminiferous tubules and blood-testis barrier of astronauts.     

Preliminary characterization of persisting circadian rhythms during space flight.

In order to evaluate the function of the circadian timing system in space, the circadian rhythm of conidiation of the fungus Neurospora crassa was monitored in constant darkness on the STS 9 flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia. During the first 7 days of spaceflight many tubes showed a marked reduction in the apparent amplitude of the conidiation rhythm, and some cultures appeared arrhythmic. There was more variability in the growth rate and circadian rhythms of individual cultures in space than is usually seen on earth. The results of this experiment indicate that while the circadian rhythm of Neurospora conidiation can persist outside of the Earth's environment, either the timekeeping process or its expression is altered in space.     

The biological clock of Neurospora in a microgravity environment.

The circadian rhythm of conidiation in Neurospora crassa is thought to be an endogenously derived circadian oscillation; however, several investigators have suggested that circadian rhythms may, instead, be driven by some geophysical time cue(s). An experiment was conducted on space shuttle flight STS-9 in order to test this hypothesis; during the first 7-8 cycles in space, there were several minor alterations observed in the conidiation rhythm, including an increase in the period of the oscillation, an increase in the variability of the growth rate and a diminished rhythm amplitude, which eventually damped out in 25% of the flight tubes. On day seven of flight, the tubes were exposed to light while their growth fronts were marked. Some aspect of the marking process reinstated a robust rhythm in all the tubes which continued throughout the remainder of the flight. These results from the last 86 hours of flight demonstrated that the rhythm can persist in space. Since the aberrant rhythmicity occurred prior to the marking procedure, but not after, it was hypothesized that the damping on STS-9 may have resulted from the hypergravity pulse of launch. To test this hypothesis, we conducted investigations into the effects of altered gravitational forces on conidiation. Exposure to hypergravity (via centrifugation), simulated microgravity (via the use of a clinostat) and altered orientations (via alterations in the vector of a 1 g force) were used to examine the effects of gravity upon the circadian rhythm of conidiation.     

空间小鼠实验有效载荷研究进展

啮齿动物是空间研究中常见的模型对象,已开展的空间生物实验中,小鼠表现出对飞行条件的有效适应.通过空间培养,研究者可对失重环境下小鼠的生理行为、骨骼和神经系统变化做进一步研究分析.本文对空间小鼠实验有效载荷的研究进展及其空间飞行实验进行了概述,为中国空间站上的小鼠培养箱设计提供参考.概述了地面小鼠培养技术和装置,为空间小鼠实验有效载荷设计提供地面对照;从实验研究内容和硬件系统设计两方面介绍了国际上已开展的空间小鼠实验,为中国空间生命科学研究和工程研制提供参考;对于中国发展空间小鼠实验有效载荷提出了建议.     

The response of endocrine system to stress loads during space flight in human subject.

The responses of endocrine system to the exposure to stress-work load and hormonal changes during oral glucose tolerance tests were studied in the Slovak astronaut before (three weeks before flight), during (on the 4th and the 6th days of space flight), and after space flight (1-3 days and 15-17 days after space flight) on board of space station MIR. Blood samples during the tests were collected via cannula inserted into cubital vein, centrifuged in the special appliance Plasma-03, frozen in Kryogem-03, and at the end of the 8-day space flight transferred to Earth in special container for hormonal analysis. Preflight workload produced an increase of plasma norepinephrine and a moderate elevation of epinephrine levels. Plasma levels of insulin, growth hormone, prolactin and cortisol were not markedly changed immediately or 10 min after the end of work load. The higher increases of plasma growth hormone, prolactin and catecholamine levels were noted after workload during space flight as compared to preflight response. The higher plasma glucose and insulin levels were noted during the oral glucose tolerance test in space flight and also in the post flight period. Plasma epinephrine levels were slightly decreasing during glucose tolerance test; however, plasma norepinephrine levels were not changed. The similar patterns of catecholamine levels during glucose tolerance test were found when compared the preflight, in-flight and post flight values. These data demonstrate the changes of the dynamic responses of endocrine system to stress-work and metabolic loads during space flight in human subject.     

关于磁尾高能粒子脉冲的一些特性

利用行星际监察卫星IMP-J取得的高能粒子探测数据(质子能档P4:230keV>E>160keV)与极光电激流指数AE作相关分析,在地心太阳磁层坐标下,按照Fairfield关于中性片对地心太阳磁层"赤道面"的偏离模式,把磁尾分成三个区域:中性片区域、低纬区域和高纬区域。结果表明:(1)高能粒子脉冲的平均强度在中性片区域最强,低纬次之,高纬最弱,表明高能粒子脉冲源区在中性片区域;(2)中性片附近,粒子脉冲和AE指数相关最好,达0.59,低纬次之,高纬几乎无相关,表明粒子脉冲与亚暴事件有关,它是磁尾中性片附近磁力线重联产生的感应电场加速的结果;(3)粒子加速区局限于中性片附近的薄层内,与国外结果完全一致。      

热解气体燃烧对炭化复合材料烧蚀热响应影响规律

在近空间高超声速飞行器飞行时间长、马赫数不断增加的发展趋势下,热防护与轻量化的矛盾越来越突出。基于此,开展了热解气体燃烧对炭化复合材料表面烧蚀影响的相关数值模拟研究,并与风洞试验结果进行了对比。结果表明:热解气体的燃烧可降低炭化复合材料表面的烧蚀厚度,并且随着气动热的增加,热解气体燃烧对材料表面碳的保护作用越来越明显。研究成果可为下一代近空间高超声速飞行器热防护系统的优化设计提供技术支撑。     

A theoretical model for the magnetic helicity of solar active regions

Active regions on the solar surface are known to possess magnetic helicity, which is predominantly negative in the northern hemisphere and positive in the southern hemisphere. Choudhuri et al. [Choudhuri, A.R. On the connection between mean field dynamo theory and flux tubes. Solar Phys. 215, 31–55, 2003] proposed that the magnetic helicity arises due to the wrapping up of the poloidal field of the convection zone around rising flux tubes which form active regions. Choudhuri [Choudhuri, A.R., Chatterjee, P., Nandy, D. Helicity of solar active regions from a dynamo model. ApJ 615, L57–L60, 2004] used this idea to calculate magnetic helicity from their solar dynamo model. Apart from getting broad agreements with observational data, they also predict that the hemispheric helicity rule may be violated at the beginning of a solar cycle. Chatterjee et al. [Chatterjee, P., Choudhuri, A.R., Petrovay, K. Development of twist in an emerging magnetic flux tube by poloidal field accretion. A&A 449, 781–789, 2006] study the penetration of the wrapped poloidal field into the rising flux tube due to turbulent diffusion using a simple 1-d model. They find that the extent of penetration of the wrapped field will depend on how weak the magnetic field inside the rising flux tube becomes before its emergence. They conclude that more detailed observational data will throw light on the physical conditions of flux tubes just before their emergence to the photosphere.     

Effects of space flight on surface marker expression.

Space flight has been shown to affect expression of several cell surface markers. These markers play important roles in regulation of immune responses, including CD4 and CD8. The studies have involved flight of experimental animals and humans followed by analysis of tissue samples (blood in humans, rats and monkeys, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes and bone marrow in rodents). The degree and direction of the changes induced by space flight have been determined by the conditions of the flight. Also, there may be compartmentalization of the response of surface markers to space flight, with differences in the response of cells isolated from blood and local immune tissue. The same type of compartmentalization was also observed with cell adhesion molecules (integrins). In this case, the expression of integrins from lymph node cells differed from that of splenocytes isolated from rats immediately after space flight. Cell culture studies have indicated that there may be an inhibition in conversion of a precursor cell line to cells exhibiting mature macrophage characteristics after space flight, however, these experiments were limited as a result of technical difficulties. In general, it is clear that space flight results in alterations of cell surface markers. The biological significance of these changes remains to be established.     

Optimization of moisture content for wheat seedling germination in a cellulose acetate medium for a space flight experiment.

The Porous Tube Plant Nutrient Delivery System (PTPNDS), a hydrophilic, microporous ceramic tube hydroponic system designed for microgravity, will be tested in a middeck locker of the Space Shuttle. The flight experiment will focus on hardware operation and assess its ability to support seed germination and early seedling growth in microgravity. The water controlling system of the PTPNDS hardware has been successfully tested during the parabolic flight of the KC-135. One challenge to the development of the space flight experiment was to devise a method of holding seeds to the cylindrical porous tube. The seed-holder must provide water and air to the seed, absorb water from the porous tube, withstand sterilization, provide a clear path for shoots and roots to emerge, and be composed of flight qualified materials. In preparation for the flight experiment, a wheat seed-holder has been designed that utilizes a cellulose acetate plug to facilitate imbibition and to hold the wheat seeds in contact with the porous tube in the correct orientation during the vibration of launch and the microgravity environment of orbit. Germination and growth studies with wheat at a range of temperatures showed that optimal moisture was 78% (by weight) in the cellulose acetate seed holders. These and other design considerations are discussed.     

Controllable passive detectors for study of the radiation environment in space and the atmosphere

We propose to study the radiation environment on board different flight vehicles: cosmos-type satellites, orbital stations, Space Shuttles and civil (sonic and supersonic) aircraft. These investigations will be carried out with single type of passive detector, namely, nuclear photoemulsions (NPE) with adjustable threshold of particle detection within broad range of linear energy transfer (LET) that is done by means of the technique of selective development of NPE exposed in space.

These investigations will allow one to determine:

• integral spectra of LET of charged particles of cosmic ray (CR) over a wide range from 2.0 to 5×10⁴ MeV/cm in biological tissue;

• differential energy spectra of fast neutrons (1–20 MeV);

• estimation of absorbed and equivalent doses from charged and neutral component CR;

• charge and energy spectra of low energy nuclei (E≤100 MeV) with Z≥2 having in view the extreme hazard radiation to biological objects and microelectronic schemes taken on board inside and outside of these different flight vehicles with exposures from several days to several months.

The investigation of radiation environment on board the airplanes depending on the flight parameters will be conducted using emulsions of different sensitivity without any controlling of threshold sensitivity (Akopova et al., 1996). The proposed detector can be used in the joint experiments on the new International Cosmic Station “Alpha”.     

The Rhesus monkey as a model for testing the immunological effects of space flight.

The Rhesus monkey has been proposed as a model for the effects of space flight on immunity. In order to determine the feasibility of the use of the Rhesus monkey as a model, we studied the use of Rhesus monkey cells for immunological procedures that have been shown to be affected by space flight in both rodents and humans. We have shown that both lymph node cells and peripheral blood leukocytes can be stained with monoclonal antibodies to detect the following surface markers: CD4, CD-8, Ia and surface immunoglobulin. Also, the level of Ia antigen expression was increased by treatment of the cells with human interferon-gamma. In addition, cells were induced to produce interferons and interleukins. Isolated neutrophils also demonstrated increased oxidative burst. These data indicate that the Rhesus monkey will be a useful model for space flight studies of immunity.     

电化学技术在复合材料腐蚀研究中的应用

用循环伏安曲线和交流阻抗谱测试技术研究了不同溶液浸泡对复合材料性能的影响,探讨了电化学表征参数与复合材料腐蚀程度之间的相关性.实验结果显示,随着浸泡时间的延长,试样的反应电阻逐渐减小,双电层电容逐渐增大,并且浸泡于酸性探针和碱性探针溶液中的试样的电化学参数比浸泡于中性探针溶液中的试样的电化学参数变化幅度更大.实验结果表明利用电化学参数的变化可以反映碳纤维增强环氧树脂基复合材料的腐蚀程度,即可以用阻抗值和电流值的大小变化表征复合材料的耐蚀性.      

自主火星探测高集成离子与中性粒子分析仪

小型化、高集成化是深空探测载荷发展的主要趋势。在我国自主火星探测计划中,设计了一种高集成化的火星离子与中性粒子分析仪。采用从传感器到电子学进行最大限度共用的设计思路,在一台仪器中实现对离子和能量中性原子进行能量、方向和成分的探测,大大降低了仪器对卫星平台的资源需求。仪器采取静电分析进行离子的方向和能量测量、采取飞行时间方法进行离子成分的测量。中性原子采用电离板电离成带电离子,后端的能量测量和成分测量与离子相同。鉴定件样机已经完成了初步的测试定标,结果表明其满足设计要求。     

飞机结构腐蚀部位涂层加速试验环境谱研究

提出了适用于飞机结构腐蚀关键部位涂层的加速试验环境谱,该谱的基本构成以CASS谱为基础,1个周期包括温湿、紫外照射、热冲击、低温疲劳和盐雾5个环境块,代表地面停放1a.结合我国沿海、湿热地区实际情况给出了温湿试验、热冲击试验的具体条件,并建立了盐雾试验中性与酸性盐雾的比例、紫外试验时间及低温疲劳应力的确定方法.以某歼击机腐蚀关键部位作为实例具体阐述了加速环境谱的编制过程,并用与外场飞机关键部位腐蚀程度对比的方法验证了1个周期代表我国沿海、湿热地区停放1a的当量加速关系.     

A ground-based study for a shuttle BRIC experiment on gravity effects on gene expression.

A BRIC (Biological Research In a Canister) experiment to investigate the effects of reduced gravity at the molecular level using Arabidopsis has been initiated. In preparation for a space flight experiment, a series of ground-based studies were conducted. Results from these studies indicate that: 1) up to 20,000 seeds can be germinated on a 100 mm diameter Petri plate, 2) nylon membrane is the best surface for recovery of plant material after freezing, 3) depending on the age of the seedlings at the time of freezing, 20 to 40 g of tissue can be obtained from Petri plates that fit in a single canister; 4) tissue from one canister yields adequate amounts of RNA to perform differential display to isolate gravity-regulated genes. Our results indicate that the proposed BRIC experiment is feasible and can provide valuable information on the possible effects of microgravity on gene regulation.     

选择中国载人航天发展目标的讨论

回顾人类载人航天 40余年的历程 ,出现过一些弯路 ,究其原因是多方面的 ,但主要的是如何合理选择各自的发展目标。发展载人航天的目标大致可有6项 :开发利用空间微重力环境物质资源 ,开发利用空间轨道能源资源 ,开发利用月球能源资源 ,发展天基航天利用空间位置资源 ,在月球上扩大人类生存空间 ,在火星上扩大人类生存空间。文章系统分析了国际上现有载人航天工程的经验和教训 ,认为结合中国的具体实际 ,中国载人航天发展的目标应重点考虑开发利用空间微重力环境物质资源和发展天基航天。     

The role of helicity in the reconnection process

The change of helicity for magnetic reconnection is calculated with the help of a kinematic model. The results confirm the approximate conservation of magnetic helicity for reconnection in an almost ideal plasma as e. g. the solar corona. Different examples show the contributions of twist or linkage of flux tubes to the total helicity change in the process. However, they also show that helicity may be produced for reconnection processes in more extended non-ideal regions which is due to new magnetic flux linked to the reconnected flux tubes.     

第2009卡林顿周太阳活动的初步分析

介绍了第 2 0 0 9卡林顿周大黑子群AR484,AR486和AR488产生的太阳活动以及这些太阳活动对地球空间环境造成的影响。依据对太阳活动的统计研究 ,简要分析了三个大黑子群活动的差异。分析结果指出 ,关注某一时期太阳活动的活动经度带以及太阳活动在某一半球的主次是解决太阳活动短期预报非常重要的思路     

Biophysical effect of cosmic heavy ions of distinct LET-classes in a plant model system.

Results presented from recent space flight BION 9 show biological effects of different LET-classes of HZE-particles in different target regions of the seed (meristem and the whole embryo) of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heyhn. HZE-one hit events and non-hit events, i.e. only hit by the low-LET background radiation, and their combined effects on the biological damage endpoint lethality are distinguished. This procedure is opening the opportunity of an approach to comparative studies of the biological effects induced by cosmic HZE-particles of different LET-ranges interacting in the complex cosmic radiation spectrum and with other space flight conditions.