G. Massa, Gerard Newsham, M. Hummerick, R. Morrow, R. Wheeler
Abstract The first Veggie plant growth chamber was installed on the International Space Station in 2014. Crop plants can be grown in Veggie using plant pillows, small rooting packets that contain substrate, fertilizer, and germination wicks along with attached seeds. The pillows were designed to interface with the Veggie root mat reservoir watering system to provide a capillary water column to growing plants. In preparation for flight, methods of arcillite substrate washing, autoclaving, and drying were established to reduce dust and to provide a dry sterile substrate. A controlled released fertilizer mixed into arcillite substrate provides nutrition for plant growth. Methods of seed surface sterilization were tested for both germination and microbial contamination, and the optimum methods were determined for candidate flight crops. Plant pillows were prepared for flight by cutting and inserting germination wicks, filling with the substrate/fertilizer mix, and sewing closed. Following pillow filling, seeds were attached to the wicks, and the pillows were packaged for flight. Pillow preparation methods have been successfully tested in the VEG-01 hardware validation tests on the International Space Station with ‘Outredgeous’ lettuce and ‘Profusion’ zinnia, and in the VEG-03 test, using ‘Outredgeous’ lettuce and ‘Tokyo bekana’ Chinese cabbage.
2014年，国际空间站安装了首个蔬菜植物生长室。在蔬菜种植中，可以使用植物枕头、含有基质、肥料和发芽芯的小生根包以及附着的种子。枕头被设计成与蔬菜根垫水库灌溉系统接口，为生长的植物提供毛细管水柱。在飞行准备中，建立了arcillite衬底洗涤、高压灭菌和干燥的方法，以减少灰尘并提供干燥的无菌衬底。一种控制释放的肥料混合到棘土基质中，为植物的生长提供营养。试验了种子表面灭菌方法对种子萌发和微生物污染的影响，确定了候选飞行作物的最佳灭菌方法。通过切割并插入发芽芯，填充基质/肥料混合物，并缝合闭合来制备植物枕头。在填充枕头后，将种子附着在芯上，然后将枕头包装起来准备飞行。枕头的制备方法已经在国际空间站的VEG-01硬件验证测试中成功地测试了' Outredgeous '生菜和' Profusion '百日草，在VEG-03测试中，使用' Outredgeous '生菜和' Tokyo bekana '白菜。
{"title":"Plant Pillow Preparation for the Veggie Plant Growth System on the International Space Station","authors":"G. Massa, Gerard Newsham, M. Hummerick, R. Morrow, R. Wheeler","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2017-0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2017-0002","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The first Veggie plant growth chamber was installed on the International Space Station in 2014. Crop plants can be grown in Veggie using plant pillows, small rooting packets that contain substrate, fertilizer, and germination wicks along with attached seeds. The pillows were designed to interface with the Veggie root mat reservoir watering system to provide a capillary water column to growing plants. In preparation for flight, methods of arcillite substrate washing, autoclaving, and drying were established to reduce dust and to provide a dry sterile substrate. A controlled released fertilizer mixed into arcillite substrate provides nutrition for plant growth. Methods of seed surface sterilization were tested for both germination and microbial contamination, and the optimum methods were determined for candidate flight crops. Plant pillows were prepared for flight by cutting and inserting germination wicks, filling with the substrate/fertilizer mix, and sewing closed. Following pillow filling, seeds were attached to the wicks, and the pillows were packaged for flight. Pillow preparation methods have been successfully tested in the VEG-01 hardware validation tests on the International Space Station with ‘Outredgeous’ lettuce and ‘Profusion’ zinnia, and in the VEG-03 test, using ‘Outredgeous’ lettuce and ‘Tokyo bekana’ Chinese cabbage.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74722050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Despite centuries of scientific balloon flights, only a handful of experiments have produced biologically relevant results. Yet unlike orbital spaceflight, it is much faster and cheaper to conduct biology research with balloons, sending specimens to the near space environment of Earth's stratosphere. Samples can be loaded the morning of a launch and sometimes returned to the laboratory within one day after flying. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) flies large unmanned scientific balloons from all over the globe, with missions ranging from hours to weeks in duration. A payload in the middle portion of the stratosphere (~35 km above sea level) will be exposed to an environment similar to the surface of Mars—temperatures generally around −36°C, atmospheric pressure at a thin 1 kPa, relative humidity levels <1%, and harsh illumination of ultraviolet (UV) and cosmic radiation levels (about 100 W/m2 and 0.1 mGy/d, respectively)—that can be obtained nowhere else on the surface of the Earth, including environmental chambers and particle accelerator facilities attempting to simulate space radiation effects. Considering the operational advantages of ballooning and the fidelity of space-like stressors in the stratosphere, researchers in aerobiology, astrobiology, and space biology can benefit from balloon flight experiments as an intermediary step on the extraterrestrial continuum (i.e., ground, low Earth orbit, and deep space studies). Our review targets biologists with no background or experience in scientific ballooning. We will provide an overview of large balloon operations, biology topics that can be uniquely addressed in the stratosphere, and a roadmap for developing payloads to fly with NASA.
{"title":"Ballooning for Biologists: Mission Essentials for Flying Life Science Experiments to Near Space on NASA Large Scientific Balloons","authors":"David J. Smith, M. Sowa","doi":"10.2478/GSR-2017-0005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/GSR-2017-0005","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Despite centuries of scientific balloon flights, only a handful of experiments have produced biologically relevant results. Yet unlike orbital spaceflight, it is much faster and cheaper to conduct biology research with balloons, sending specimens to the near space environment of Earth's stratosphere. Samples can be loaded the morning of a launch and sometimes returned to the laboratory within one day after flying. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) flies large unmanned scientific balloons from all over the globe, with missions ranging from hours to weeks in duration. A payload in the middle portion of the stratosphere (~35 km above sea level) will be exposed to an environment similar to the surface of Mars—temperatures generally around −36°C, atmospheric pressure at a thin 1 kPa, relative humidity levels <1%, and harsh illumination of ultraviolet (UV) and cosmic radiation levels (about 100 W/m2 and 0.1 mGy/d, respectively)—that can be obtained nowhere else on the surface of the Earth, including environmental chambers and particle accelerator facilities attempting to simulate space radiation effects. Considering the operational advantages of ballooning and the fidelity of space-like stressors in the stratosphere, researchers in aerobiology, astrobiology, and space biology can benefit from balloon flight experiments as an intermediary step on the extraterrestrial continuum (i.e., ground, low Earth orbit, and deep space studies). Our review targets biologists with no background or experience in scientific ballooning. We will provide an overview of large balloon operations, biology topics that can be uniquely addressed in the stratosphere, and a roadmap for developing payloads to fly with NASA.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74214842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Spaceflight is known to affect immune cell populations. In particular, splenic B-cell numbers decrease during spaceflight and in ground-based physiological models. Although antibody isotype changes have been assessed during and after spaceflight, an extensive characterization of the impact of spaceflight on antibody composition has not been conducted in mice. Next Generation Sequencing and bioinformatic tools are now available to assess antibody repertoires. We can now identify immunoglobulin gene-segment usage, junctional regions, and modifications that contribute to specificity and diversity. Due to limitations on the International Space Station, alternate sample collection and storage methods must be employed. Our group compared Illumina MiSeq® sequencing data from multiple sample preparation methods in normal C57Bl/6J mice to validate that sample preparation and storage would not bias the outcome of antibody repertoire characterization. In this report, we also compared sequencing techniques and a bioinformatic workflow on the data output when we assessed the IgH and Igκ variable gene usage. Our bioinformatic workflow has been optimized for Illumina HiSeq® and MiSeq® datasets, and is designed specifically to reduce bias, capture the most information from Ig sequences, and produce a data set that provides other data mining options.
{"title":"Validation of Methods to Assess the Immunoglobulin Gene Repertoire in Tissues Obtained from Mice on the International Space Station","authors":"Trisha A Rettig, C. Ward, M. Pecaut, S. Chapes","doi":"10.2478/GSR-2017-0001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/GSR-2017-0001","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Spaceflight is known to affect immune cell populations. In particular, splenic B-cell numbers decrease during spaceflight and in ground-based physiological models. Although antibody isotype changes have been assessed during and after spaceflight, an extensive characterization of the impact of spaceflight on antibody composition has not been conducted in mice. Next Generation Sequencing and bioinformatic tools are now available to assess antibody repertoires. We can now identify immunoglobulin gene-segment usage, junctional regions, and modifications that contribute to specificity and diversity. Due to limitations on the International Space Station, alternate sample collection and storage methods must be employed. Our group compared Illumina MiSeq® sequencing data from multiple sample preparation methods in normal C57Bl/6J mice to validate that sample preparation and storage would not bias the outcome of antibody repertoire characterization. In this report, we also compared sequencing techniques and a bioinformatic workflow on the data output when we assessed the IgH and Igκ variable gene usage. Our bioinformatic workflow has been optimized for Illumina HiSeq® and MiSeq® datasets, and is designed specifically to reduce bias, capture the most information from Ig sequences, and produce a data set that provides other data mining options.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81557004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Injecting a liquid into a gas-filled vessel while in weightlessness can result in at least two conditions–a droplet attached to the wall around the injection orifice and a geyser in which the liquid propagates away from the orifice in a continuous jet. The need to design injection of liquid to accomplish one condition or the other shows up in both zero-g fluids research geometries and spaceflight systems. Previous experiments by others assumed the rim of the injection orifice to be sharp. Liquid flow out of orifices with chamfered and rounded rims during the weightlessness of parabolic aircraft flight are studied in this work. When compared to previous work, results indicate that chamfered and rounded rims have little effect on the value of Weber number dividing the wall-bound droplet and geyser behaviors. Because any manufactured orifice will have finite bluntness, this conclusion is useful for both research and spaceflight systems.
{"title":"Injecting a Liquid in Weightlessness: Droplet or Geyser Formation","authors":"S. Collicott, K. D. Kennedy","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2017-0003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2017-0003","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Injecting a liquid into a gas-filled vessel while in weightlessness can result in at least two conditions–a droplet attached to the wall around the injection orifice and a geyser in which the liquid propagates away from the orifice in a continuous jet. The need to design injection of liquid to accomplish one condition or the other shows up in both zero-g fluids research geometries and spaceflight systems. Previous experiments by others assumed the rim of the injection orifice to be sharp. Liquid flow out of orifices with chamfered and rounded rims during the weightlessness of parabolic aircraft flight are studied in this work. When compared to previous work, results indicate that chamfered and rounded rims have little effect on the value of Weber number dividing the wall-bound droplet and geyser behaviors. Because any manufactured orifice will have finite bluntness, this conclusion is useful for both research and spaceflight systems.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76820362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trisha A Rettig, Claire Ward, Michael J Pecaut, Stephen K Chapes
Spaceflight is known to affect immune cell populations. In particular, splenic B cell numbers decrease during spaceflight and in ground-based physiological models. Although antibody isotype changes have been assessed during and after space flight, an extensive characterization of the impact of spaceflight on antibody composition has not been conducted in mice. Next Generation Sequencing and bioinformatic tools are now available to assess antibody repertoires. We can now identify immunoglobulin gene- segment usage, junctional regions, and modifications that contribute to specificity and diversity. Due to limitations on the International Space Station, alternate sample collection and storage methods must be employed. Our group compared Illumina MiSeq sequencing data from multiple sample preparation methods in normal C57Bl/6J mice to validate that sample preparation and storage would not bias the outcome of antibody repertoire characterization. In this report, we also compared sequencing techniques and a bioinformatic workflow on the data output when we assessed the IgH and Igκ variable gene usage. This included assessments of our bioinformatic workflow on Illumina HiSeq and MiSeq datasets and is specifically designed to reduce bias, capture the most information from Ig sequences, and produce a data set that provides other data mining options. We validated our workflow by comparing our normal mouse MiSeq data to existing murine antibody repertoire studies validating it for future antibody repertoire studies.
{"title":"Validation of Methods to Assess the Immunoglobulin Gene Repertoire in Tissues Obtained from Mice on the International Space Station.","authors":"Trisha A Rettig, Claire Ward, Michael J Pecaut, Stephen K Chapes","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Spaceflight is known to affect immune cell populations. In particular, splenic B cell numbers decrease during spaceflight and in ground-based physiological models. Although antibody isotype changes have been assessed during and after space flight, an extensive characterization of the impact of spaceflight on antibody composition has not been conducted in mice. Next Generation Sequencing and bioinformatic tools are now available to assess antibody repertoires. We can now identify immunoglobulin gene- segment usage, junctional regions, and modifications that contribute to specificity and diversity. Due to limitations on the International Space Station, alternate sample collection and storage methods must be employed. Our group compared Illumina MiSeq sequencing data from multiple sample preparation methods in normal C57Bl/6J mice to validate that sample preparation and storage would not bias the outcome of antibody repertoire characterization. In this report, we also compared sequencing techniques and a bioinformatic workflow on the data output when we assessed the IgH and Igκ variable gene usage. This included assessments of our bioinformatic workflow on Illumina HiSeq and MiSeq datasets and is specifically designed to reduce bias, capture the most information from Ig sequences, and produce a data set that provides other data mining options. We validated our workflow by comparing our normal mouse MiSeq data to existing murine antibody repertoire studies validating it for future antibody repertoire studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5736159/pdf/nihms924608.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"35682019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Perry, Jake L. Martin, Samantha D. Vickers, Greta M. Cesarz, L. Bai, E. Selimovic, Franklin R. Muntis, Prashant J. Parmar, J. Caruso
Abstract Lower leg exercises are impacted by the anatomy of the triceps surae-Achilles tendon complex. Such exercises may utilize series elastic energy (SEE), temporarily stored within the Achilles tendon, to augment forces exerted by the triceps surae. While SEE's contribution to bipedal jumping and walking have been assessed, other lower leg exercises yet to receive similar scrutiny include seated calf presses done on flywheel-based hardware. Current subjects did two identical calf press workouts on a flywheel ergometer. The following three variables were obtained from workouts–the total work (TW) performed, net energy costs, and peak blood lactate concentration ([BLa−]). With multivariate regression, four variables correlated with each criterion measures’ variance–lower leg length (LLL) and cross-sectional area (CSA), as well as the lengths of the triceps surae (ML) and Achilles tendon (ATL). Our predictor variables correlated to significant amounts of TW and net energy cost, but not [BLa−] variance. Univariate matrices showed CSA was the best overall predictor for our criterion measures, while ML and ATL were generally weaker correlates. ATL did not have as great an impact as with other lower leg exercises; likely because the slow rate of ankle joint movement greatly limited SEE activity. The limited degree of foot support for ergometer repetitions was also a factor that likely weakened ATL's impact as a correlate. More research on anatomy's impact on this novel form of exercise is warranted.
{"title":"Lower Leg Anatomical Correlates to Performance and Metabolism from Flywheel-based Exercise","authors":"R. Perry, Jake L. Martin, Samantha D. Vickers, Greta M. Cesarz, L. Bai, E. Selimovic, Franklin R. Muntis, Prashant J. Parmar, J. Caruso","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2017-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2017-0004","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Lower leg exercises are impacted by the anatomy of the triceps surae-Achilles tendon complex. Such exercises may utilize series elastic energy (SEE), temporarily stored within the Achilles tendon, to augment forces exerted by the triceps surae. While SEE's contribution to bipedal jumping and walking have been assessed, other lower leg exercises yet to receive similar scrutiny include seated calf presses done on flywheel-based hardware. Current subjects did two identical calf press workouts on a flywheel ergometer. The following three variables were obtained from workouts–the total work (TW) performed, net energy costs, and peak blood lactate concentration ([BLa−]). With multivariate regression, four variables correlated with each criterion measures’ variance–lower leg length (LLL) and cross-sectional area (CSA), as well as the lengths of the triceps surae (ML) and Achilles tendon (ATL). Our predictor variables correlated to significant amounts of TW and net energy cost, but not [BLa−] variance. Univariate matrices showed CSA was the best overall predictor for our criterion measures, while ML and ATL were generally weaker correlates. ATL did not have as great an impact as with other lower leg exercises; likely because the slow rate of ankle joint movement greatly limited SEE activity. The limited degree of foot support for ergometer repetitions was also a factor that likely weakened ATL's impact as a correlate. More research on anatomy's impact on this novel form of exercise is warranted.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86813745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract As an extension of NASA Ames’ long history and sustaining international collaboration for sharing tissues acquired from one-off spaceflight experiments, we have recently established a new mobile operation for acquiring small animal biospecimens from ongoing ground-based studies supported by the NASA Human Research Program (HRP) organized at Johnson Space Center (JSC). Goals of Ames’ Biospecimen Sharing Programs (BSPs) are to: (1) advance understanding of physiological responses and adaptations to the space environment utilizing animal models in support of fundamental space and gravitational biology research, and to promote human health in space and on Earth, (2) provide a repository of high-quality, well-preserved, and carefully archived and maintained biospecimens by applying modern approaches and established best practices in the biobanking field, and (3) establish a database for gathering broad and comprehensive scientific information corresponding to these samples, including cutting edge techniques for tracking and archiving of structural, descriptive, and administrative metadata. This program, modeled after contemporary human and animal biobanking initiatives, is yielding a rich archive of quality specimens that can be used to address a broad range of current and future scientific questions relevant to NASA Life Sciences, Exploration Medicine, and beyond.
{"title":"Translating Basic Research to Astronaut Health in Space: NASA Ames Rodent Specimen Biobanking for the Human Research Program","authors":"A. Ronca, Alison J. French, Jeffrey D. Smith","doi":"10.2478/GSR-2016-0014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/GSR-2016-0014","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract As an extension of NASA Ames’ long history and sustaining international collaboration for sharing tissues acquired from one-off spaceflight experiments, we have recently established a new mobile operation for acquiring small animal biospecimens from ongoing ground-based studies supported by the NASA Human Research Program (HRP) organized at Johnson Space Center (JSC). Goals of Ames’ Biospecimen Sharing Programs (BSPs) are to: (1) advance understanding of physiological responses and adaptations to the space environment utilizing animal models in support of fundamental space and gravitational biology research, and to promote human health in space and on Earth, (2) provide a repository of high-quality, well-preserved, and carefully archived and maintained biospecimens by applying modern approaches and established best practices in the biobanking field, and (3) establish a database for gathering broad and comprehensive scientific information corresponding to these samples, including cutting edge techniques for tracking and archiving of structural, descriptive, and administrative metadata. This program, modeled after contemporary human and animal biobanking initiatives, is yielding a rich archive of quality specimens that can be used to address a broad range of current and future scientific questions relevant to NASA Life Sciences, Exploration Medicine, and beyond.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84008517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Because of difficulties during the fixation in space and the often reported enhanced expression of stress-related genes in space experiments, we investigated the possible effect of fixation on gene expression. Comparing two fixatives (RNAlater® and 70% ethanol), two-day-old Brassica rapa seedlings were either fixed by gradual exposure or immediate and complete immersion in fixative for two days. Neither fixative yielded high amounts of rRNA; RNAlater® resulted in higher RNA yield in shoot tissue but qPCR data showed higher yield in ethanol-fixed material. qPCR analyses showed strongly enhanced transcripts of stress-related genes, especially in RNAlater®-fixed material. The data suggest that fixation artefacts may be partially responsible for effects commonly attributed to space syndromes.
{"title":"Beware of Fixation—It Might Affect Your Experiments","authors":"M. Park, K. Hasenstein","doi":"10.2478/GSR-2016-0012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/GSR-2016-0012","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Because of difficulties during the fixation in space and the often reported enhanced expression of stress-related genes in space experiments, we investigated the possible effect of fixation on gene expression. Comparing two fixatives (RNAlater® and 70% ethanol), two-day-old Brassica rapa seedlings were either fixed by gradual exposure or immediate and complete immersion in fixative for two days. Neither fixative yielded high amounts of rRNA; RNAlater® resulted in higher RNA yield in shoot tissue but qPCR data showed higher yield in ethanol-fixed material. qPCR analyses showed strongly enhanced transcripts of stress-related genes, especially in RNAlater®-fixed material. The data suggest that fixation artefacts may be partially responsible for effects commonly attributed to space syndromes.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87404172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thomas G. Smith, F. Formenti, P. Hodkinson, M. Khpal, Brian. Mackenwells, N. Talbot
Abstract Future spacecraft and crew habitats are anticipated to use a moderately hypobaric and hypoxic cabin atmosphere to reduce the risk of decompression sickness associated with extravehicular activity. This has raised concerns about potential hypoxia-mediated adverse effects on astronauts. Noninvasive technology for measuring tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) has been developed for clinical use and may be helpful in monitoring oxygenation during spaceflight. We conducted a technical evaluation of a handheld StO2 monitor during a series of parabolic flights, and then undertook a preliminary analysis of the data obtained during the flights from six individuals. The StO2 monitor operated normally in all gravity conditions. There was considerable variability in StO2 between and within individuals. Overall, transition to microgravity was associated with a small decrease in StO2 of 1.1±0.3%. This evaluation has established the basic function of this technology in microgravity and demonstrates the potential for exploring its use in space.
{"title":"Monitoring Tissue Oxygen Saturation in Microgravity on Parabolic Flights","authors":"Thomas G. Smith, F. Formenti, P. Hodkinson, M. Khpal, Brian. Mackenwells, N. Talbot","doi":"10.2478/gsr-2016-0007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2016-0007","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Future spacecraft and crew habitats are anticipated to use a moderately hypobaric and hypoxic cabin atmosphere to reduce the risk of decompression sickness associated with extravehicular activity. This has raised concerns about potential hypoxia-mediated adverse effects on astronauts. Noninvasive technology for measuring tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) has been developed for clinical use and may be helpful in monitoring oxygenation during spaceflight. We conducted a technical evaluation of a handheld StO2 monitor during a series of parabolic flights, and then undertook a preliminary analysis of the data obtained during the flights from six individuals. The StO2 monitor operated normally in all gravity conditions. There was considerable variability in StO2 between and within individuals. Overall, transition to microgravity was associated with a small decrease in StO2 of 1.1±0.3%. This evaluation has established the basic function of this technology in microgravity and demonstrates the potential for exploring its use in space.","PeriodicalId":90510,"journal":{"name":"Gravitational and space research : publication of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76504433","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Collin E. LeFrois, Mingqi Zhou, D. Amador, Natasha J. L. Sng, A. Paul, R. Ferl
Abstract Spaceflight has a unique set of abiotic conditions to which plants respond by orchestrating genome-wide alterations to their transcriptome. The methods for preserving plants for RNA analysis are well-established and proven over multiple missions, but, methods for investigating the possible epigenetic mechanisms that may contribute to the transcriptome alteration are not well-developed for the confining limitations of the International Space Station (ISS). Currently, the methods used to isolate genomic DNA and to perform epigenetic analyses are ideal for frozen plants, as opposed to plants stored in RNAlater®—a high salt solution that chemically suspends all cellular activity and is typically used on the ISS. Therefore, we developed a method for extracting high-quality genomic DNA suitable for epigenetic analysis from Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) plants that were preserved with the current preservation system aboard the ISS—fixation in RNAlater® using Kennedy Space Center Fixation Tubes (KFTs).
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