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At least 523 records · Page 29

Information services for comparative analysis of biorhythm research

References and full text documents are presented in support of continuing research and research planning for the NASA behavioral physiology program. Areas covered include: (1) desynchronosis and performance; (2) effects of alcohol, common colds, drugs, and toxic hazards on performance; (3) effects of stress on rhythm of plasma steroids; (4) data processing of biological rhythms; (5) pharmacology and biological rhythms; (6) mechanisms of biological rhythms; and (7) development of biological rhythms.

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Rare-gas effects on metabolism and inert gas narcosis

The detailed examination is reported of the theory that narcosis results from expansion of the cell membrane under high partial pressures. The research is partially based on the hypothesis that, like oxygen toxicity, the mechanism of metabolic effects of rare gases may be similar at both low and high pressures and are simply more observable at high pressures. Using adult female goats, the parameters measured include oxygen consumption, CO2 production, respiration rate, heart rate, rectal and skin temperatures and the analysis of electroencephalograms and evoked response. Additionally, the specific activity is measured of plasma glucose subsequent to injection of glucose-UL-C-14, intravenous infusion, specific activity of expired CO2, unesterified fatty acid levels and whole blood lactate-to-pyruvate ratios. Also studied were the effects of acetylsalicylic acid, vitamin E and cationic detergents (which alleviate narcosis) upon metabolic changes induced by high pressure narcosis.

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Operation and maintenance, fire rescue air-pack. Volume 2: Communications

The operation and maintenance procedures are described for the development model of the fire rescue air pack (FRAP) voice amplifier assembly, including the battery charger. Operational instructions include a general description of the assembly, specifications, and installation and operation. Maintenance instructions include theory of operation, preventive maintenance, repair, adjustment, and a parts list. The FRAP is intended to permit fire rescue personnel to enter a smoke-filled, toxic or oxygen depleted environment carrying their own source of breathing air. The voice amplifier assembly permits the wearer to communicate by voice with other persons in the vicinity. The battery charger assembly provides a means of keeping the amplifier batteries fully charged.

Source record↗

Sensing land pollution.

Land pollution is described in numerous ways by various societies. Pollutants of land are material by-products of human activity and range from environmentally ineffective to positively toxic. The pollution of land by man is centuries old and correlates directly with economy, technology and population. In order to remotely sense land pollution, standards or thresholds must be established. Examples of the potential for sensing land pollution and quality are presented. The technological capabilities for remotely sensed land quality is far advanced over the judgment on how to use the sensed data. Until authoritative and directive decisions on land pollution policy are made, sensing of pollutants will be a random, local and academic affair.

Bowden, L. W.↗

Ultrastructural changes in rat lung during long-term exposure to oxygen.

The pathogenesis of oxygen toxicity in the lung of rats was studied by electron microscopy. The following long-term effects were established: (1) a progressive destruction of the blood-air barrier beginning with the endothelial cell layer; (2) a profuse edema in the interstitial spaces in the pleural space in the alveoli and in the cytoplasm and organelles; (3) a continuing increase in the quantity and complexity of the alveolar exudate; (4) gradual hemolysis of red blood cells; and (5) eventual subsiding of the interstitial edema in surviving rats with a concomitant development of emphysema.

Harrison, G. A.↗

Mercury contamination study for flight system safety

The effects and prevention of possible mercury pollution from the failure of solar electric propulsion spacecraft using mercury propellant were studied from tankage loading of post launch trajector injection. During preflight operations and initial flight mode there is little danger of mercury pollution if proper safety precautions are taken. Any spillage on the loading, mating, transportation, or launch pad areas is obvious and can be removed by vacuum cleaning soil and chemical fixing. Mercury spilled on Cape Kennedy ground soil will be chemically complexed and retained by the sandstone subsoil. A cover layer of sand or gravel on spilled mercury which has settled to the bottom of a water body adjacent to the system operation will control and eliminate the formation of toxic organic mercurials. Mercury released into the earth's atmosphere through leakage of a fireball will be diffused to low concentration levels. However, gas phase reactions of mercury with ozone could cause a local ozone depletion and result in serious ecological hazards.

Gorzynski, C. S., Jr.↗

Photographic Remote Sensing of Sick Citrus Trees

Remote sensing with infrared color aerial photography (Kodak Ektachrome Infrared Aero 8443 film) for detecting citrus tree anomalies is described. Illustrations and discussions are given for detecting nutrient toxicity symptoms, for detecting foot rot and sooty mold fungal diseases, and for distinguishing among citrus species. Also, the influence of internal leaf structure on light reflectance, transmittance, and absorptance are considered; and physiological and environmental factors that affect citrus leaf light reflectance are reviewed briefly and illustrated.

Gausman, H. W.↗

Environmental health program activities

Activities reported include studies on toxic air contaminants, excessive noise, poor lighting, food sanitation, water pollution, and exposure to nonionizing radiation as health hazards. Formulations for a radiological health manual provide guidance to personnel in the procurement and safe handling of radiation producing equipment and Apollo mission planning. A literature search and development of a water analysis laboratory are outlined to obtain information regarding microbiological problems involving potable water, waste management, and personal hygiene.

Bergtholdt, C. P.↗

The relationship of NASA occupational medicine and environmental health with the Advisory Center on Toxicology

Preventive measures of occupational medicine and industrial hygiene are coordinated to identify toxicities of industrial products and safety standards in manned space flight applications. Emphasized is the off-gassing of construction materials in spacecraft with the resulting contamination of the cabin atmosphere and the establishment of criteria for the quality of drinking water for astronauts during Gemini and Apollo programs.

Wands, R. C.↗

Medical Automation System at the Marshall Space Flight Center

A computer system is reported for scheduling and coordinating physical examinations for groups of people who work with chemicals, lasers, X-rays, isotopic sources, toxic fuels, adhesives, and exotic metals. Complete medical data on the examined population are continuously updated for a broad medical master file. Statistical methods are employed to project progressive changes in the health status of these employees for possible clinical interventions.

Spraul, J. H.↗

Satellite studies of suspended matter and aquatic interfaces in Delaware Bay

The author has identified the following significant results. Three successful ERTS-1 satellite passes have produced synoptic imagery showing distribution of suspended matter and aquatic interfaces over Delaware Bay and adjacent Atlantic coastal regions. The interfaces are a major hydrographic feature in Delaware Bay and frequently include regions of high convergence. In the upper and middle bay the interfaces tend to align along the flow axis of the river and parallel to the shoreline. A correlation has been found between the concentration of sand particles in suspension and the depth, suggesting that most of the heavier particles are lifted into temporary suspension over shoals and shallow areas by currents and waves. The second type of interface is primarily a tidal intrusion of shelf water into the bay during incipient flood tide, with associated discontinuities in salinity and temperature. The convergence properties of such fronts attract heavy accumulations of foam which were found to contain strong concentrations of heavy metals and other toxic substances.

Klemas, V.↗

An analytical analysis of the dispersion predictions for effluents from the Saturn 5 and Scout-Algol 3 rocket exhausts

Predictions of the spatial concentration mapping of the potentially toxic constituents of the exhaust effluents from a launch of a Saturn 5 and of a Scout-Algol 3 vehicle utilizing the NASA/MSFC Multilayer Diffusion Program are provided. In the case of the Saturn 5, special attention was given to the concentration fields of carbon monoxide with a correlation of carbon dioxide concentrations. The Scout-Algol 3 provided an example of the centerline concentrations of hydrogen chloride, carbon monoxide, and alumina under typical meteorological conditions. While these results define the specific environmental impact of these two launches under the meteorological conditions existing during launches, they also provide a basis for the empirical monitoring of the constituents of the exhaust effluents of these vehicles.

Stephens, J. B.↗

Monitoring coastal water properties and circulation from ERTS-1

The author has identified the following significant results. Imagery and digital tapes from nine successful ERTS-1 passes over Delaware Bay during different portions of the tidal cycle have been analyzed with special emphasis on turbidity, current circulation, waste disposal plumes, and convergent boundaries between different water masses. ERTS-1 image radiance correlated well with Secchi depth and suspended sediment concentration. MSS band 5 seemed to give the best representation of sediment load in the upper one meter of the water column. Circulation patterns observed by ERTS-1 during different parts of the tidal cycle, agreed well with predicted and measured currents throughout Delaware Bay. During flood tide the suspended sediment as visible from ERTS-1 also correlated well with the depth profile. Convergent shear boundaries between different water masses were observed from ERTS-1, with foam lines containing high concentrations of lead, mercury, and other toxic substances. Several fronts have been seen. Those near the mouth of the bay are associated with the tidal intrusion of shelf water. Fronts in the interior of the bay on the Delaware side appear to be associated with velocity shears induced by differences in bottom topography. Waste disposal plumes have benn detected 36 miles offshore.

Klemas, V.↗

Toxicology: Mechanisms of deuterium oxide action, part 2

The metabolism of winter rye seedlings (Secale cereale, L. cv. Winter) cultured in 99.6% D2O was investigated. Compared with water grown seedlings, the protein content was much lower in the D2O cultured seedlings and the incorporation of H(3)-leucine and H(3)-phenylalanine into medium to high molecular weight proteins was partially blocked. The synthesis of the enzyme peroxidase was also reduced in the D2O plants. Seedlings cultured in D2O incorporate H(3)-thymidine into DNA, but do not take up H(3)-uridine. These results suggest that some of the toxic effects of D2O culture on higher plants can be attributed to a partial block of protein synthesis.

Siegel, S. M.↗

Hepatic pathology in mice after continuous inhalation exposure to 1, 1, 1-trichloroethane

Mice exposed to either 250ppm or 1,000ppm 1,1,1-trichloroethane in air continuously for 14 weeks demonstrated significant changes in the centrilobular hepatocytes for the 1,000ppm group. Moderate liver triglyceride accumulation was evident in the 1,000ppm group and peaked at 40mg/gm of tissue after 7 weeks of exposure. Focal hepatocyte necrosis occurred in 40% of the mice exposed to 1,000ppm for 12 weeks. This necrosis was associated with an acute inflammatory infiltrate and hypertrophy of Kupffer cells. These findings indicate that the pathological alternations observed with 1,1,1-trichloroethane are similar to those observed with dichloromethane except for different time courses of the effects and different degrees of recovery. The toxic effects of 1,1,1-trichloroethane are of a similar type to those produced by carbon tetrachloride but appear much less severe.

Mcnutt, N. S.↗

Microbiological and experimental-histological investigations of lunar samples returned by the Lunar 16 automatic station

Lunar surface material was studied for its content of viable microorganisms (aerobic and anaerobic, fungi, and viruses); the effect of the lunar surface material on the growth of microorganisms and its interaction with somatic cells of mammals was also observed. No viable microorganisms were detected; the samples exhibited neither stimulant or inhibitory action on the growth of microorganisms, and also showed no cytopathogenic action on tissue cultures. A suspension of lunar surface material particles was not toxic when parenterally administered to certain laboratory animals. The particles were subjected to intense phagocytosis by connective tissue cells in vivo and in vitro.

Kaulen, D. R.↗