Life Sciences in Space Research最新文献

{"title":"Spaceflight associated dry eye syndrome (SADES): Radiation, stressors, and ocular surface health","authors":"Ryung Lee, Joshua Ong, Ethan Waisberg, Andrew G. Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.007","url":null,"abstract":"Crewed spaceflight missions require careful scrutinization of the health risks including alterations to the tear film lipid layer in astronauts. We review the current literature and prior published work on tear film lipid layer biophysics and secondary spaceflight-associated dry eye syndrome (SADES). We define the term spaceflight-associated dry eye syndrome to describe the collection of ocular surface signs and symptoms experienced by astronauts during spaceflight. Our review covers the ocular surface and lipidomics in the spaceflight environment. From our literature review, we extrapolate biophysical principles governing the tear film layer to determine the changes that may arise from the harsh conditions of spaceflight and microgravity. Our findings provide vital information for future long-duration spaceflight, including a return to the Moon and potential missions to Mars.","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142212529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biofilm dynamics in space and their potential for sustainable space exploration – A comprehensive review","authors":"V G Sowmeya, Mythili Sathiavelu","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"Microbial biofilms are universal. The intricate tapestry of biofilms has remarkable implications for the environment, health, and industrial processes. The field of space microbiology is actively investigating the effects of microgravity on microbes, and discoveries are constantly being made. Recent evidence suggests that extraterrestrial environments also fuel the biofilm formation. Understanding the biofilm mechanics under microgravitational conditions is crucial at this stage and could have an astounding impact on inter-planetary missions. This review systematically examines the existing understanding of biofilm development in space and provides insight into how molecules, physiology, or environmental factors influence biofilm formation during microgravitational conditions. In addition, biocontrol strategies targeting the formation and dispersal of biofilms in space environments are explored. In particular, the article highlights the potential benefits of using microbial biofilms in space for bioremediation, life support systems, and biomass production applications.","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142212530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Solid waste management and resource recovery during the 4-crew 180-day CELSS integrated experiment","authors":"Weidang Ai, Yibing Deng, Chongyang Wu, Jingsong Yang, Yongkang Tang, Liangchang Zhang, Qingni Yu, Yinghui Li","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.003","url":null,"abstract":"In order to explore the management and treatment methods of solid waste in the Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) of future lunar bases, during the 4-crew 180-day integrated experiment, the Solid Waste Management and Treatment System (SWMTS) was built, in which the treatment of recyclable solid waste such as inedible plant parts and human excrement was completed through a combination of biological aerobic composting and high-temperature oxidation. Basic data on the types and amounts of solid waste generated during the 4-crew 180-day experiment mission were obtained. There were six types of solid wastes, including the work support wastes, the household support wastes, the plant cultivation wastes, the plant-based wastes, and crew feces. The daily average production was 0.67, 1.4, 0.32, 8.48, 0.534 kg/d, respectively. The proportion of plant-based wastes was high as 74.3 %, indicating that it was the most important part. By closed-loop air drying and graded crushing, all 1526.97 kg of plant-based waste was treated, with water recovery (about 1163.87 kg), as well as volume reduction and stabilization treatment. By incineration and aerobic composting treatment, 67.3 % (244.4 kg) of the plant-based wastes (dry weight) and all of the feces (96.26 kg) were converted, providing 339.54 kg carbon dioxide for plant growth. And 90.6 kg organic fertilizer was obtained. The fertilizer was highly mature, met safety requirements, and effectively improved lettuce yield. The recycling rate of renewable solid waste during the experiment reached 89.8 %. The efficient circulation of solid waste had been achieved during the 4-crew 180-day integrated experiment. The long-time experimental results have shown that the established solid wastes management and treatment system can timely treat biomass solid waste such as inedible parts of plants and crew feces, achieve timely recovery of water in such solid waste, and recycle carbon and other elements, which effectively improved the material closure of the system and ensured the successful 4-crew 180-day experiment. This work also maybe lay the foundation for the construction and operation of an ecological life support system for future lunar bases.","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142212531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Combined irradiation by gamma-rays and carbon-12 nuclei caused hyperlocomotion and change in striatal metabolism of rats","authors":"Viktor S. Kokhan, Kirill Chaprov, Denis A. Abaimov, Maxim S. Nesterov, Vladimir A. Pikalov","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"Exposure to ionizing radiation during manned deep space missions to Mars could lead to functional impairments of the central nervous system, which may compromise the success of the mission and affect the quality of life for returning astronauts. Along with radiation-induced changes in cognitive abilities and emotional status, the effects of increased motor activity were observed. The mechanisms behind these phenomena still remain unresolved. We conducted a study on grip strength, locomotor activity and intrasession habituation to novelty in 5-month-old rats after exposure to radiation (combined 0.4 Gy gamma-rays and 0.14 Gy C nuclei). At the same time, we carried out neurochemical and molecular analysis of the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the dorsal striatum (dST). The study revealed radiation-induced hyperlocomotion and enhanced habituation. It also showed an increase in choline concentration and a decreased in 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid concentration in the NAc after irradiation. In addition to this, a down-regulation of syntaxin 1A in NAc and dST as well as up-regulation α-synuclein in NAc were observed. The obtained data indicate both the damaging effect of irradiation on striatum tissues and the initiation of neuronal/axonal regeneration processes. It is hypothesized that the increase in choline concentration in NAc and the decreased content of syntaxin 1A in dST may be the part of the mechanism responsible for the radiation-induced hyperlocomotion.","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142212532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disparity in the effect of partial gravity simulated using a new apparatus on different rat hindlimb muscles","authors":"Shengli Zhang, Shenke Zhang, Zhen Wang, Takuya Adachi, Yukari Yoshida, Akihisa Takahashi","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.004","url":null,"abstract":"The days of returning to the Moon and landing on Mars are approaching. These long-duration missions present significant challenges, such as changes in gravity, which pose serious threats to human health. Maintaining muscle function and health is essential for successful spaceflight and exploration of the Moon and Mars. This study aimed to observe the adaptation of rat hindlimb muscles to partial gravity conditions by simulating the gravity of space (microgravity (µ)), Moon (1/6), and Mars (3/8) using our recently invented ground-based apparatus. A total of 25 rats were included in this study. The rats were divided into five groups: control (1), sham (1), simulated Mars (3/8), simulated Moon (1/6), and simulated Space (µ). Muscle mass, fiber proportion, and fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) of four types of hindlimb muscles were measured: gastrocnemius (GA), tibialis anterior (TA), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), soleus (Sol). Sol and GA exhibited the most significant alterations in response to the changes in gravity after 10 days of the experiment. A notable decline in muscle mass was observed in the simulated µ, Moon, and Mars groups, with the µ group exhibiting the most noticeable decline. In Sol, a noteworthy decline in the proportion of slow-twitch type I fibers, CSA of slow-twitch type I fibers, and average CSA of the whole muscle fibers was observed in the simulated groups. The GA red, mixed, and white portions were examined, and the GA mixed portion showed significant differences in fiber proportion and CSA. A notable increase in the proportion of slow-twitch type I fibers was observed in the simulated groups, with a significant decrease in CSA of type IIb. In EDL or TA, no discernible changes in muscle mass, fiber proportion, or fiber CSA were observed in any of the five groups. These findings indicate that weight-bearing muscles, such as Sol and GA, are more sensitive to changes in partial gravity. Furthermore, partial gravity is insufficient to preserve the normal physiological and functional properties of the hindlimb muscles. Therefore, targeted muscle interventions are required to ensure astronauts' health and mission success. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate the viability and durability of our ground-based apparatus for partial gravity simulation.","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142212542","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Space radiation research with heavy ions at HIMAC","authors":"Satoshi Kodaira, Eric Benton, Yoshiyuki Iwata, Takahiro Makino, Jack Miller, Takeshi Ohshima, Yukio Uchihori, Cary Zeitlin","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"The HIMAC (Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba) was originally designed principally for carbon ion therapy, but heavy ion research projects in medicine, physics, chemistry and biology have been conducted under a collaborative research framework since 1994. One major application is space radiation research. The radiation in space of greatest interest for human space exploration consists of energetic protons and heavy ions which can affect the health of space crew and lead to the failure of electronic devices. Ground-based experiments at heavy ion accelerators are crucial for ensuring mission crew safety and for understanding the biological effects of long-term exposure to space radiation. HIMAC provides a range of linear energy transfer (LET) beams from protons to Xe ions at energies up to 800 MeV/u, representing the most biologically-significant components of the space radiation field. At HIMAC a variety of radiation detectors and instruments are characterized and calibrated for dosimetry using specific mono-energetic heavy ion beams, the performance of shielding materials for mitigating space radiation dose is evaluated, radiation hardness of electronic devices is tested to ensure their safe operation in space, and the radiobiological studies are conducted to understand biological effects in humans during long-term space activities. HIMAC is an indispensable simulator of space radiation for the new decade of space exploration.","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142212533","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and the blood-brain barrier biomarkers on the brain response to spaceflight","authors":"Xiao Wen Mao, Michael J Pecaut, Seta Stanbouly, Gregory Nelson","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2024.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"Prolonged spaceflight can induce physiologic and pathologic abnormalities in the central nervous system (CNS). Our knowledge of the adaptive and/or detrimental effects of spaceflight on the structure and function of the nervous system is limited. Substantial effort has been devoted to identifying and developing reliable indicators to characterize and predict CNS injury and dysfunction associated with prolonged exposure to major components of the space environment including microgravity, physiological/psychological stress, and radiation from galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar particle events (SPEs) outside of low earth orbit (LEO). The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a semi-permeable membrane that is essential to maintain homeostasis of the brain microenvironment. Oxidative stress or other environmental stressors may disrupt BBB integrity and increase permeability leading to immune cell infiltration and undesirable neuroinflammation. The focus of this review article is on BBB damage associated with spaceflight and space radiation in rodent and human studies. We will highlight potential biomarkers for this damage, including site-specific and circulating neuroinflammatory factors, BBB structural and brain parenchyma proteins, and neuroimaging tools for BBB damage evaluation. These knowledge will help to understand the risks associated with space travel and are also critical for novel countermeasure development to mitigate the space flight risk to astronaut performances.","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142212534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioregenerative dietary supplementation in space: Brassica rapa var. nipposinica and other Brassica cultivars","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2023.12.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lssr.2023.12.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Despite the precise environmental manipulation enabled by controlled environment agriculture (CEA), plant genotype remains a key factor in producing desirable traits. <em>Brassica rapa</em> var. <em>nipposinica</em> (mizuna) is a leading candidate for supplementing deficiencies in the space diet, however, which cultivar of mizuna will respond best to the environment of the international space station (ISS) is unknown. It is also unclear if there are more inter-varietal (mizuna - mustards) or intra-varietal (mizuna - mizuna) differences in response to the ISS environment. Twenty-two cultivars of mustard greens, including 13 cultivars of mizuna, were grown under ISS-like conditions to determine which would provide the greatest yield and highest concentrations of carotenoids, anthocyanins, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, ascorbic acid, thiamine, and phylloquinone. The experiment was conducted thrice, and data were analyzed to determine which cultivar is most suited for further optimization of space-based cultivation. It was found that phylloquinone and β-carotene concentrations did not vary between cultivars, while all other metrics of interest showed some variation. ‘Amara’ mustard (<em>B. carinata</em>) provided the best overall nutritional profile, despite its low biomass yield of 36.8 g, producing concentrations of 27.85, 0.40, and 0.65 mg·<em>g</em> ⁻ ¹ of ascorbic acid, thiamine, and lutein, respectively. Of the mizuna cultivars evaluated, open pollinated mibuna provided the best profile, while 'Red Hybrid’ mizuna provided a complimentary profile to that of ‘Amara’, minimally increasing dietary iron while providing beneficial anthocyanins lacking in ‘Amara’.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214552423000846/pdfft?md5=d4cefc51a6af872eeb753e0507f717ab&pid=1-s2.0-S2214552423000846-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139029252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Organ dose equivalents of albedo protons and neutrons under exposure to large solar particle events during lunar human landing missions","authors":"Sungmin Pak ,&nbsp;Francis A. Cucinotta","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2024.07.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2024.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Astronauts participating in lunar landing missions will encounter exposure to albedo particles emitted from the lunar surface as well as primary high-energy particles in the spectra of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) and solar particle events (SPEs). While existing studies have examined particle energy spectra and absorbed doses in limited radiation exposure scenarios on and near the Moon, comprehensive research encompassing various shielding amounts and large SPEs on the lunar surface remains lacking. Additionally, detailed organ dose equivalents of albedo particles in a human model on the lunar surface have yet to be investigated. This work assesses the organ dose equivalents of albedo neutrons and albedo protons during historically large SPEs in August 1972 and September 1989 utilizing realistic computational anthropomorphic human phantom for the first time. Dosimetric quantities within human organs have been evaluated based on the PHITS Monte Carlo simulation results and quality factors of the state-of-the-art NASA Space Cancer Risk (NSCR) model, as well as ICRP publications. The results with the NSCR model indicate that the albedo contribution to organ dose equivalent is less than 3 % for 1 g/cm² aluminum shielding, while it increases to more than 30 % in some organs for 50 g/cm² aluminum shielding during exposure to low-energy-proton-rich SPEs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141605827","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated analysis of miRNAome and transcriptome reveals that microgravity induces the alterations of critical functional gene modules via the regulation of miRNAs in short-term space-flownC. elegans","authors":"Xinye He ,&nbsp;Lei Zhao ,&nbsp;Baohang Huang ,&nbsp;Ge Zhang ,&nbsp;Ye Lu ,&nbsp;Dong Mi ,&nbsp;Yeqing Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.lssr.2024.07.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2024.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microgravity, as a unique hazardous factor encountered in space, can induce a series of harmful effects on living organisms. The impact of microgravity on the pivotal functional gene modules stemming from gene enrichment analysis via the regulation of miRNAs is not fully illustrated. To explore the microgravity-induced alterations in critical functional gene modules via the regulation of miRNAs, in the present study, we proposed a novel bioinformatics algorithm for the integrated analysis of miRNAome and transcriptome from short-term space-flown <em>C. elegans</em>. The samples of <em>C. elegans</em> were exposed to two space conditions, namely spaceflight (SF) and spaceflight control (SC) onboard the International Space Station for 4 days. Additionally, the samples of ground control (GC) were included for comparative analysis. Using the present algorithm, we constructed regulatory networks of functional gene modules annotated from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their associated regulatory differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs). The results showed that functional gene modules of molting cycle, defense response, fatty acid metabolism, lysosome, and longevity regulating pathway were facilitated by 25 down-regulated DEmiRNAs (e.g., cel-miR-792, cel-miR-65, cel-miR-70, cel-lsy-6, cel-miR-796, etc.) in the SC vs. GC groups, whereas these modules were inhibited by 13 up-regulated DEmiRNAs (e.g., cel-miR-74, cel-miR-229, cel-miR-70, cel-miR-249, cel-miR-85, etc.) in the SF vs. GC groups. These findings indicated that microgravity could significantly alter gene expression patterns and their associated functional gene modules in short-term space-flown <em>C. elegans</em>. Additionally, we identified 34 miRNAs as post-transcriptional regulators that modulated these functional gene modules under microgravity conditions. Through the experimental verification, our results demonstrated that microgravity could induce the down-regulation of five critical functional gene modules (i.e., molting cycle, defense response, fatty acid metabolism, lysosome, and longevity regulating pathways) via the regulation of miRNAs in short-term space-flown <em>C. elegans</em>.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":18029,"journal":{"name":"Life Sciences in Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141582748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}