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NASA NTRS1994

Gravity, the third dimension of life support in space

The ascent of the human into high altitudes required a 2-D life support system that supplied: oxygen, and heat. At lower altitudes, increased oxygen concentration in the inhaled gases was useful, but at higher altitudes for longer durations, this 'clever' life support approach was no longer adequate--physiologic requirements had to provide a natural pressure-based environment. In space, the life support system requires a third dimension, gravity. Although substituting for gravity has been successful on a limited number of physiologic functions for short-duration stays in space, long durations will require the effects of the real thing for critical physiologic functions. It has been known for over a hundred years that the forces of acceleration (G) and gravity are equivalent. Therefore, gravitational stimulation in space can be achieved with centrifugation. However, for this stimulation to be effective, the dosage of G required to maintain normal physiologic function must be determined. An approximation of this dosage of G for the human can be determined with 3-day bed-rest studies including periodic centrifuge exposure. Recent research on this topic is reviewed.

Burton, Russell R.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Human parathyroid hormone-(1-38) restores cancellous bone to the immobilized, osteopenic proximal tibial metaphysis in rats

The purpose of this study was to determine if human parathyroid hormone-(1-38) (PTH) can restore cancellous bone mass to the established osteopenic, immobilized proximal tibial metaphyses (PTM) of female rats. The right hindlimbs of six-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were immobilized by bandaging the right hindlimbs to the abdomen. After 30 days of right hindlimb immobilization (RHLI), the rats were subcutaneously injected with 200 microgram hPTH(1-38)/kg/day for 15 (short-term) or 75 (longer-term) days. Static bone histomorphometry was performed on the primary spongiosa, while both static and dynamic histomorphometry were performed on the secondary spongiosa of the right PTM. Immobilization for 30 days without treatment decreased trabecular bone area, number and thickness in both primary and secondary spongiosa, and induced an increase in eroded perimeter and a decrease in tissue referent-bone formation rate (BFR/TV) in the secondary spongios. These changes reached a new steady state thereafter. Treatment with 200 microgram hPTH(1-38)/kg/day for 15 days, beginning at 30 days post immobilization (IM), significantly increased trabecular bone area, thickness and number in both primary and secondary spongiosa despite continuous IM when compared to the age-related and IM controls. The short-term (15 days) PTH treatment significantly increased labeling perimeter, mineral apposition rate and BFR/TV in the secondary spongiosa and stimulated longitudinal bone growth as compared to the age-related and IM controls. PTH treatment for longer-term (75 days) further increased trabecular bone area, thickness and number as compared to aging and IM controls and short-term (15 days) PTH treated groups. The bone formation indices in the secondary spongiosa of these longer-term treated rats were lower than that of short-term (15 days) PTH treated group, but they were still higher than those of IM and age-related controls. Our findings indicate that PTH treatment stimulates cancellous bone formation, restores and adds extra cancellous bone to the established, disuse-osteopenic proximal tibial metaphysis of continuously RHLI female rats. These results suggest that PTH may be a useful agent in treatment disuse-induced osteoporosis in humans.

Ma, Y. F.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Comparative transduction mechanisms of hair cells in the bullfrog uticulus. 2: Sensitivity and response dynamics to hair bundle displacement

The present study was motivated by an interest in seeing whether hair cell types in the bullfrog utriculus might differ in their voltage responses to hair bundle displacement. Particular interest was in assessing the contributions of two factors to the responses of utricular hair cells. First, interest in examining the effect of hair bundle morphology on the sensitivity of hair cells to natural stimulation was motivated by the observation that vestibular hair cells, unlike many auditory hair cells, are not free-standing but rather linked to an accessory cupular or otolithic membrane via the tip of their kinocilium. Interest also laid in examining the contribution, if any, of adaptation to the response properties of utricular hair cells. Hair cells in auditory and vibratory inner ear endorgans adapt to maintained displacements of their hair bundles, sharply limiting their low frequency sensitivity. This adaptation is mediated by a shift in the displacement-response curve (DRC) of the hair cell along the displacement axis. Observations suggest that the adaptation process occurs within the hair bundle and precedes mechanoelectric transduction. Recent observations of time-dependent changes in hair bundle stiffness are consistent with this conclusion. Adaptation would be expected to be most useful in inner ear endorgans in which hair cells are subject to large static displacements that could potentially saturate their instantaneous response and compromise their sensitivity to high frequency stimulation. The adaptation process also permits hair cells to maintain their sensory hair bundle in the most sensitive portion of their DRC. In vestibular otolith organs in which static sensitivity is desirable, any adaptation process in the hair cells may be undesirable. The rate and extent of the decline of the voltage responses was measured of utricular hair cells to step and sinusoidal hair bundle displacements. Then for similar resting potentials and response amplitudes, the voltage responses of individual hair cells were compared to both hair bundle displacement and intracellular current.

Baird, Richard A.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Production and action of cytokines in space

B6MP102 cells, a continuously cultured murine bone marrow macrophage cell line, were tested for secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and Interleukin-1 during space flight. We found that B6MP102 cells secreted more tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 when stimulated in space with lipopolysaccharide than controls similarly stimulated on earth. This compared to increased secretion of interferon-beta and -gamma by lymphocytes that was measured on the same shuttle flights. Although space flight enhanced B6MP102 secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, an experiment on a subsequent space flight (STS-50) found that cellular cytotoxicity, mediated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha, was inhibited.

Chapes, Stephen K.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Weapons to widgets: Organic systems and public policy for tech transfer

Large cuts in defense spending cause serious repercussions throughout the American economy. One means to counter the negative effects of defense reductions is to redirect federal dollars to temporarily prop up defense industries and, over the longer-term, stimulate growth of new nondefense industries. The creation of non-defense products and industries by channeling ideas from public laboratories into the private sector manufacturing facilities, known as technology transfer, is being undertaken in a massive program that has high visibility, large amounts of money, and broad federal agency involvement. How effectively federal money can be directed toward stimulating the creation of non-defense products will define the strength of the economy, (i.e., tax base, employment level, trade balance, capital investments, etc.), over the next decade. Key functions of the tech transfer process are technology and market assessment, capital formation, manufacturing feasibility, sales and distribution, and business organization creation. Those, however, are not functions typically associated with the federal government. Is the government prepared to provide leadership in those areas? This paper suggests organic systems theory as a means to structure the public sector's actions to provide leadership in functional areas normally outside their scope of expertise. By applying new ideas in organization theory, can we design government action to efficiently and effectively transfer technologies?

Cargo, Russell A.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Competition Effect in Atomic-Molecular System

The competition effects among the processes of atomic ionization, optical pumped stimulated radiation (OPSR), four-wave frequency mixing (FWFM) and molecular stimulated diffuse band radiation at the atomic two-photon resonance of 3S approaches 4D in Na2 - Na mixture were observed. The dip at the two-photon resonance in the excitation spectrum for the diffuse-band radiation was interpreted as suppression of population in 4D state.

Jia, Suotang↗

NASA NTRS1993

S-Ketoprofen Inhibits Tenotomy-Induced Bone Loss and Dynamics in Weanling Rats

The objects of this study were to determine whether S-ketoprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), can prevent immobilization (tenotomy)-induced bone loss in weanling rats. Forty five 4 week-old Sprague-Dawley female rats were either sham-operated or subjected to knee tenotomy and treated simultaneously with 0, 0.02, 0.1, 0.5 or 2.5 mg of S-ketoprofen/kg per day for 21 days. We then studied double-fluorescent labeled proximal tibial longitudinal sections and tibial shaft cross sections using static and dynamic histomorphometry. Less cancellous bone mass in proximal tibial metaphyses was found in tenotomized controls than in basal (36%) and sham-operated (54%) controls. This was due to the inhibition of age-related bone gain and induced bone loss due to increased bone resorption and decreased bone formation. S-ketoprofen prevented both the inhibition of age-related bone gain and the stimulation of bone loss at the 2.5 mg/kg per day dose level, while it only prevented bone loss at the 0.5 mg/kg dose levels. In cancellous bone, dynamic histomorphometry showed that S-ketoprofen prevented the tenotomy induced decrease in bone formation and increase in bone resorption. In the tibial shaft, tenotomy inhibited the enlargement of total tissue area by depressing periosteal bone formation, and thus inhibited age-related cortical bone gain. S-ketoprofen treatment did not prevent this change at all dose levels, but reduced marrow cavity area to increase cortical bone area at the 0.1, 0.5 and 2.5 mg/kg per dose levels compared to tenotomy controls. However, the cortical bone area in the 0.1 and 0.5 mg dose-treated treated tenotomy rats was still lower than in the age-related controls. S-ketoprofen also prevented the increase in endocortical eroded perimeter induced by tenotomy. In summary, tenotomy inhibited age-related bone gain and stimulated bone loss in cancellous bone sites, and only inhibited age-related bone gain in cortical bone sites. S-ketoprofen treatment at the highest dose levels prevented the changes in cancellous bone, and reduced marrow area to increase cortical bone in the tibial shafts.

Zeng, Q. Q.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Prostaglandin E2 Prevents Bone Loss and Adds Extra Bone to Immobilized Distal Femoral Metaphysis in Female Rats

The object of this study was to determine whether prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) can prevent disuse (underloading)-induced cancellous bone loss. Thirteen-month-old retired female Sprague-Dawley breeders served as controls or were subjected to right hindlimb immobilization by bandaging and simultaneously treated subcutaneously daily with 0, 1, 3, or 6 mg PGE2/kg/d for two and six weeks. Histomorphometric analyses were performed on the cancellous bone using double-fluorescent labeled, 20 micron thick, undecalcified distal femoral metaphysis sections. We found that PGE2 administration not only prevented disuse-induced bone loss, but also added extra bone to disuse cancellous bone in a dose-response manner. PGE2 prevented the disuse-induced osteopenia by stimulating more bone formation than and shortening the period of bone remodeling. It activated woven bone formation, stimulated lamellar bone formation, and increased the eroded bone surface above that caused by disuse alone. While underloading increased the remodeling period (sigma), PGE2 treatment of underloaded bone shortened the time for osteoclastic bone resorption and bone remodeling, and thus reduced the remodeling space. The study shows that PGE2 is a powerful anabolic agent that prevents disuse-induced osteopenia and adds extra bone to these same bones.

Akamine, T.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Partial Loss of Anabolic Effect of Prostaglandin E2 on Bone After Its Withdrawal in Rats

The object of this study was to determine the fate of PGE(sub 2)-induced new bone mass after withdrawal of PGE(sub 2) administration. Seven-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were given subcutaneous injections of 1, 3, and 6 mg PGE(sub 2)/kg/d for 60 days and then withdrawn for 60 and 120 days. Histomorphometric analyses were performed on double fluorescent labeled undecalcified proximal tibial bone specimens. After 60 days of PGE(sub 2) treatment, a new steady state of increased trabecular bone area (+67% and +81% with 3 and 6 mg PGE(sub 2)/kg/d) from woven bone and stimulated lamellar bone formation, elevated bone turnover, and shortened remodeling periods were achieved compared to age-matched controls. In contrast, after 60 and 120 days withdrawal of PGE(sub 2), a new steady state characterized by less trabecular bone area (+40% to +60% of controls with 3 and 6 mg/kg/d doses), normal lamellar bone formation, no woven bone formation from controls, and eroded surface greater than those seen in controls and previously in 60-day PGE(sub 2) treated rats. The decrease in new bone mass after withdrawal of PGE(sub 2) was due to a further elevation of bone resorption above that induced by the PGE(sub 2) treatment and a reduction in PGE(sub 2) stimulated bone formation activities. Although there is more trabecular bone than in controls after 120 days' withdrawal of PGE(sub 2), we postulate that the skeletal adaptation to mechanical usage will eventually reduce the bone mass to control levels. Thus, it is conservative to conclude that the anabolic effect of PGE(sub 2) was dependent upon continuous daily administration of PGE(sub 2) in these older rats.

Ke, H. Z.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Spaceflight and Development of Immune Responses

Evidence from both human and rodent studies has indicated that alterations in immunological parameters occur after space flight. The number of flight experiments has been small, and the full breadth of immunological alterations occurring after space flight remains to be established. Among the major effects on immune responses after space flight that have been reported are: alterations in lymphocyte blastogenesis and natural killer cell activity, alterations in production of cytokines, changes in leukocyte sub-population distribution, and decreases in the ability of bone marrow cells to respond to colony stimulating factors. Changes have been reported in immunological parameters of both humans and rodents. The significance of these alterations in relation to resistance to infection remains to be established. The objective of the studies contained in this project was to determine the effects of space flight on immune responses of pregnant rats and their offspring. The hypothesis was that space flight and the attendant period of microgravity will result in alteration of immunological parameters of both the pregnant rats as well as their offspring carried in utero during the flight. The parameters tested included: production of cytokines, composition of leukocyte sub- populations, response of bone marrow/liver cells to granulocyte/monocyte colony stimulating factor, and leukocyte blastogenesis. Changes in immune responses that could yield alterations in resistance to infection were determined. This yielded useful information for planning studies that could contribute to crew health. Additional information that could eventually prove useful to determine the potential for establishment of a permanent colony in space was obtained.

Sonnenfeld, Gerald↗

NASA NTRS1991

Partial Loss of Anabolic Effect of Prostaglandin E(sub 2) on Bone After Its Withdrawal in Rats

The object of this study was to determine the fate of PGE(sub 2)-induced new bone mass after withdrawal of PGE(sub 2) administration. Seven-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were given subcutaneous injections of 1, 3, and 6 mg PGE(sub 2),/kg/d for 60 days and then withdrawn for 60 and 120 days. Histomorphometric analyses were performed on double fluorescent labeled undecalcified proximal tibial bone specimens. After 60 days of PGE(sub 2) treatment, a new steady state of increased trabecular bone area (+67% and +81% with 3 and 6 mg PGE(sub 2)/kg/d) from woven bone and stimulated lamellar bone formation, elevated bone turnover, and shortened remodeling periods were achieved compared to age-matched controls. In contrast, after 60 and 120 days withdrawal of PGE(sub 2), a new steady state characterized by less trabecular bone area (+40% to +60% of controls with 3 and 6 mg/kg/d doses), normal lamellar bone formation, no woven bone formation from controls, and eroded surface greater than those seen in controls and previously in 60-day PGE(sub 2) treated rats. The decrease in new bone mass after withdrawal of PGE(sub 2), was due to a further elevation of bone resorption above that induced by the PGE(sub 2) treatment and a reduction in PGE(sub 2), stimulated bone formation activities. Although there is more trabecular bone than in controls after 120 days withdrawal of PGE(sub 2), we postulate that the skeletal adaptation to mechanical usage will eventually reduce the bone mass to control levels. Thus, it is conservative to conclude that the anabolic effect of PGE(sub 2) was dependent upon continuous daily administration of PGE(sub 2) in these older rats.

Ke, H. Z.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Flood Management Enhancement Using Remotely Sensed Data

SENTAR, Inc., entered into a cooperative agreement with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in December 1994. The intent of the NASA Cooperative Agreement was to stimulate broad public use, via the Internet, of the very large remote sensing databases maintained by NASA and other agencies, thus stimulating U.S. economic growth, improving the quality of life, and contributing to the implementation of a National Information Infrastructure. SENTAR headed a team of collaborating organizations in meeting the goals of this project. SENTAR's teammates were the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Global Hydrology and Climate Center (GHCC), the U.S. Army Space and Strategic Defense Command (USASSDC), and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (EMA). For this cooperative agreement, SENTAR and its teammates accessed remotely sensed data in the Distributed Active Archive Centers, and other available sources, for use in enhancing the present capabilities for flood disaster management by the Alabama EMA. The project developed a prototype software system for addressing prediction, warning, and damage assessment for floods, though it currently focuses on assessment. The objectives of the prototype system were to demonstrate the added value of remote sensing data for emergency management operations during floods and the ability of the Internet to provide the primary communications medium for the system. To help achieve these objectives, SENTAR developed an integrated interface for the emergency operations staff to simplify acquiring and manipulating source data and data products for use in generating new data products. The prototype system establishes a systems infrastructure designed to expand to include future flood-related data and models or to include other disasters with their associated remote sensing data requirements and distributed data sources. This report covers the specific work performed during the seventh, and final, milestone period of the project, which began on 1 October 1996 and ended on 31 January 1997. In addition, it provides a summary of the entire project.

Romanowski, Gregory J.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Dual Regulation of a Chimeric Plant Serine/Threonine Kinase by Calcium and Calcium/Calmodulin

A chimeric Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CCaMK) gene characterized by a catalytic domain, a calmodulin-binding domain, and a neural visinin-like Ca(2+)-binding domain was recently cloned from plants. The Escherichia coli-expressed CCaMK phosphorylates various protein and peptide substrates in a Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent manner. The calmodulin-binding region of CCAMK has similarity to the calmodulin-binding region of the alpha-subunit of multifunctional Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII). CCaMK exhibits basal autophosphorylation at the threonine residue(s) (0.098 mol of P-32/mol) that is stimulated 3.4-fold by Ca(2+) (0.339 mol of P-32/mol), while calmodulin inhibits Ca(2+)-stimulated autophosphorylation to the basal level. A deletion mutant lacking the visinin-like domain did not show Ca(2+)-simulated autophosphorylation activity but retained Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity at a reduced level. Ca(2+)-dependent mobility shift assays using E.coli-expressed protein from residues 358-520 revealed that Ca(2+) binds to the visinin-like domain. Studies with site-directed mutants of the visinin-like domain indicated that EF-hands II and III are crucial for Ca(2+)-induced conformational changes in the visinin-like domain. Autophosphorylation of CCaMK increases Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity by about 5-fold, whereas it did not affect its C(2+)-independent activity. This report provides evidence for the existence of a protein kinase in plants that is modulated by Ca(2+) and Ca(2+)/calmodulin. The presence of a visinin-like Ca(2+)-binding domain in CCaMK adds an additional Ca(2+)-sensing mechanism not previously known to exist in the Ca(2+)/calmodulin-mediated signaling cascade in plants.

Takezawa, D.↗

NASA NTRS1997

The Neuroendocrinology of Thirst and Salt Appetite: Visceral Sensory Signals and Mechanisms of Central Integration

This review examines recent advances in the study of the behavioral responses to deficits of body water and body sodium that in humans are accompanied by the sensations of thirst and salt appetite. Thirst and salt appetite are satisfied by ingesting water and salty substances. These behavioral responses to losses of body fluids, together with reflex endocrine and neural responses, are critical for reestablishing homeostasis. Like their endocrine and neural counterparts, these behaviors are under the control of both excitatory and inhibitory influences arising from changes in osmolality, endocrine factors such as angiotensin and aldosterone, and neural signals from low and high pressure baroreceptors. The excitatory and inhibitory influences reaching the brain require the integrative capacity of a neural network which includes the structures of the lamina terminalis, the amygdala, the perifornical area, and the paraventricular nucleus in the forebrain, and the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN), the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), and the area postrema in the hindbrain. These regions are discussed in terms of their roles in receiving afferent sensory input and in processing information related to hydromineral balance. Osmoreceptors controlling thirst are located in systemic Viscera and in central structures that lack the blood-brain barrier. Angiotensin and aldosterone act on and through structures of the lamina terminalis and the amygdala to stimulate thirst and sodium appetite under conditions of hypovolemia. The NTS and LPBN receive neural signals from baroreceptors and are responsible for inhibiting the ingestion of fluids under conditions of increased volume and pressure and for stimulating thirst under conditions of bypovolemia and hypotension. The interplay of multiple facilitory influences within the brain may take the form of interactions between descending angiotensinergic systems originating in the forebrain and ascending adrenergic systems emanating from the hindbrain. Oxytocin and serotonin are additional candidate neuro- chemicals with postulated inhibitory central actions and with essential roles in the overall integration of sensory input within the neural network devoted to maintaining hydromineral balance.

Johnson, Alan Kim↗

NASA NTRS1995

Ion Acoustic Wave Frequencies and Onset Times During Type 3 Solar Radio Bursts

Conflicting interpretations exist for the low-frequency ion acoustic (S) waves often observed by ISEE 3 in association with intense Langmuir (L) waves in the source regions of type III solar radio bursts near 1 AU. Two indirect lines of observational evidence, as well as plasma theory, suggest they are produced by the electrostatic (ES) decay L yields L(PRIME) + S. However, contrary to theoretical predictions, an existing analysis of the wave frequencies instead favors the electromagnetic (EM) decays L yields T + S, where T denotes an EM wave near the plasma frequency. This conflict is addressed here by comparing the observed wave frequencies and onset times with theoretical predictions for the ES and EM decays, calculated using the time-variable electron beam and magnetic field orientation data, rather than the nominal values used previously. Field orientation effects and beam speed variations are shown analytically to produce factor-of-three effects, greater than the difference in wave frequencies predicted for the ES and EM decays; effects of similar magnitude occur in the events analyzed here. The S-wave signals are extracted by hand from a sawtooth noise background, greatly improving the association between S waves and intense L waves. Very good agreement exists between the time-varying predictions for the ES decay and the frequencies of most (but not all) wave bursts. The waves occur only after the ES decay becomes kinematically allowed, which is consistent with the ES decay proceeding and producing most of the observed signals. Good agreement exists between the EM decay's predictions and a significant fraction of the S-wave observations while the EM decay is kinematically allowed. The wave data are not consistent, however, with the EM decay being the dominant nonlinear process. Often the observed waves are sufficiently broadband to overlap simultaneously the frequency ranges predicted for the ES and EM decays. Coupling the dominance of the ES decay with this frequency overlap provides support for a previous suggestion that fundamental emission occurs when the EM decay is stimulated by the ES decay product waves. The periods in which the ES and EM decays produce observable S waves are consistent with the observed and (independently) predicted times of fundamental and harmonic radio emission. This supports interpretation of fundamental emission as stimulated EM decay and harmonic emission as the coalescence L + L(prime) yields T of beam-generated L waves and L(prime) waves produced by the ES decay, where T denotes an electromagnetic wave at twice the plasma frequency. Analysis of the electron beam data reveals that the time-varying beam speed is consistent with ballistic beam propagation with minimal energy loss, implying that the beam propagates in a state close to time- and volume-averaged marginal stability. This confirms a central tenet of the stochastic growth theory for type III bursts.

Cairns, Iver H.↗

NASA NTRS1997

Calcification and photosynthesis of the coral acropora cervicornis under calcium limited conditions

Differing hypothesis about the function of calcification are based on an interesting dilemma. Is the purpose of calcification mainly a structural and protective one or does calcification serve other functions? Does photosynthesis increase carbonate ion activity and cause calcification or does calcification increase CO2 levels and stimulate photsynthesis? It is proposed that calcification in corals is not dependent upon photosynthesis but upon calcium levels in the water. Under normal ocean conditions, corals convert a certain percentage of energy to photosynthesis and respiration and another percentage to calcification. As corals become nutrient stressed, particularly calcium limited, the ratio of photosynthesis to calcification shifts towards calcification in order to generate protons. The protons generated during calcification may stimulate photosynthesis and aid in the uptake of nutrients and biocarbonates. The results of the calcification experiment show a trend towards increased calcification and decreased photosynthesis when the coral Acropora cervicornis is calcium limited, but the data are inconclusive and further research is needed.

Rathfon, Megan↗

NASA NTRS1999

Comparative Studies for the Sodium and Potassium Atmospheres of the Moon and Mercury

A summary discussion of recent sodium and potassium observations for the atmospheres of the Moon and Mercury is presented with primary emphasis on new full-disk images that have become available for sodium. For the sodium atmosphere, image observations for both the Moon and Mercury are fitted with model calculations (1) that have the same source speed distribution, one recently measured for electron-stimulated desorption and thought to apply equally well to photon-stimulated desorption, (2) that have similar average surface sodium fluxes, about 2.8 x 10(exp 5) to 8.9 x 10(exp 5) atoms cm(exp -2)s(exp -1) for the Moon and approximately 3.5 x 10(exp 5) to 1.4 x 10(exp 6) atoms cm(exp -2)s(exp -1) for Mercury, but (3) that have very different distributions for the source surface area. For the Moon, a sunlit hemispherical surface source of between approximately 5.3 x 10(exp 22) to 1.2 x 10(exp 23) atoms/s is required with a spatial dependence at least as sharp as the square of the cosine of the solar zenith angle. For Mercury, a time dependent source that varies from 1.5 x 10(exp 22) to 5.8 x l0(exp 22) atoms/s is required which is confined to a small surface area located at, but asymmetrically distributed about, the subsolar point. The nature of the Mercury source suggest that the planetary magnetopause near the subsolar point acts as a time varying and partially protective shield through which charged particles may pass to interact with and liberate gas from the planetary surface. Suggested directions for future research activities are discussed.

Smyth, William H.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Expression of Novel Gene Products Upregulated by Disuse is Normalized by an Osteogenic Mechanical Stimulus: Evidence for the Molecular Basis of a Low Level Biomechanical Countermeasure for Osteoporosis?

The National Research Council's report entitled: A Strategy for Space Biology and Medical Science, highlighted several areas of fundamental scientific investigation which must be addressed to make long-term space exploration not only feasible, but safe. This "Goldberg Strategy," as well as several subsequent reports published by the NRC's Space Studies Board (e.g., Assessment of Programs in Space Biology and Medicine, Smith et. al., 1991), suggests that the principal hurdle to man's extended presence in space is the osteopenia which parallels reduced gravity. Ironically, the most significant risk to the skeleton may only be realized on return to normal gravitational fields, and full recovery of bone mass may never occur. Effective counter-measures to this microgravity induced bone loss are thus essential. Considering the similarities of space and aging induced osteopenia, an indisputable benefit of such a prophylaxis would be its potential as a treatment for the bone loss which plagues over 25 million people in the U.S. The osteogenic potential of mechanical strain is strongly frequency dependent, with sensitivity increasing up through at least 60 Hz (cycles per second). One hundred seconds per day of a 1 Hz cyclic loading will inhibit disuse osteopenia only if sufficient in magnitude to engender 1000 microstrain (mu(epsilon)) in the tissue. When loading is applied at 30 Hz, however, mechanical strains on the order of 5O mu(epsilon) (approx. 1% of the peak strains which occur in bone during vigorous functional activity), can stimulate bone formation in a duration dependent manner. In longer term animal studies, strains of less than 10 mu(epsilon), induced non-invasively via a whole body vibration, will stimulate bone formation on the surfaces of trabeculae, increase bone density, and improve strength. Finally, preliminary results from a double blind prospective clinical trial shows promise in inhibiting the bone loss which parallels the menopause. Based on these observations, we propose that these high frequency, low magnitude, mechanical strains effectively serve as a "surrogate" for musculoskeletal ground reaction forces, and thus represent an ideal countermeasure to the osteopenia which parallels microgravity conditions. The specific goal of this NASA funded work is to identify genes in bone upregulated by disuse, and to determine the efficacy of an osteogenic mechanical stimulus to downregulate their expression.

Rubin, C.↗