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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2008

Mechanical Properties and Durability of "Waterless Concrete"

Waterless concrete consists of molten elementary sulfur and aggregate. The aggregates in lunar environment will be lunar rocks and soil. Sulfur is present on the Moon in Troilite soil (FeS) and by oxidation soil iron and sulfur can be produced. Iron can be used to reinforce the sulfur concrete. Sulfur concrete specimens were cycled between liquid nitrogen (approximately 191 C) and room temperature (approximately 21 C) to simulate exposure to a lunar environment. Cycled and control specimens were subsequently tested in compression at room temperatures (approximately 21 C) and approximately 101 C. Test results showed that due to temperature cycling, compressive strength of cycled specimens was 20% of those non-cycled. Microscopic examination of the fracture surfaces from the cycled samples showed clear de-bonding of the sulfur from the aggregate material whereas it was seen well bonded in those non-cycled. This reduction in strength can be attributed to the large differences in thermal coefficients of expansion of the materials constituting the concrete which promoted cracking. Similar sulfur concrete mixtures were strengthened with short and long glass fibers. The glass fibers from lunar regolith simulant was melted in a 25 cc Pt-Rh crucible in a Sybron Thermoline high temperature MoSi2 furnace at melting temperatures of 1450 to 1600 C for times of 30 min to 1 hour. Glass fibers were cast from the melt into graphite crucibles and were annealed for a couple of hours at 600 C. Glass fibers and small rods were pulled from the melt. The glass melt wets the ceramic rod and long continuous glass fibers were easily hand drawn. The glass fibers were immediately coated with a protective polymer to maintain the mechanical strength. The glass fibers were used to reinforce sulfur concrete plated to improve the flexural strength of the sulfur concrete. Prisms beams strengthened with glass fibers were tested in 4-point bending test. Beams strengthened with glass fiber showed to exhibit an increase in the flexura strength by as much as 45%.

Toutanji, Houssam↗
NASA NTRS1991

Lunar oxygen production by pyrolysis of regolith

Oxygen represents one of the most desirable products of lunar mining and manufacturing. Among the many processes which have been proposed for oxygen production, pyrolysis stands out as one which is uncomplicated and easy to bootstrap. Pyrolysis or vapor-phase reduction involves heating regolith to temperatures sufficient to allow partial decomposition and vaporization. Some metal oxides give up oxygen upon heating, either in the gas phase to form reduced gaseous species or in the condensed phase to form a metallic phase. Based on preliminary experiments and equilibrium calculations, the temperatures needed for pyrolysis are expected to be in the range of 2000 to 2200 K, giving total gas pressures of 0.001 to 0.1 torr. Bulk regolith can be used as a feedstock without beneficiation with concentrated solar radiation supplying most of energy needed. Further, selective condensation of metal-containing species from the gas phase may yield metallic iron and silicon as byproducts.

Senior, Constance L.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Sulfate- and Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria as Terrestrial Analogs for Microbial Life on Jupiter's Satellite Io

Observations from the Voyager and Galileo spacecraft have revealed Jupiter's moon Io to be the most volcanically active body of our Solar System. The Galileo Near Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (NIMS) detected extensive deposits of sulfur compounds, elemental sulfur and SO2 frost on the surface of Io. There are extreme temperature variations on Io's surface, ranging from -130 C to over 2000 C at the Pillan Patera volcanic vent. The active volcanoes, fumaroles, calderas, and lava lakes and vast sulfur deposits on this frozen moon indicate that analogs of sulfur- and sulfate-reducing bacteria might inhabit Io. Hence Io may have great significance to Astrobiology. Earth's life forms that depend on sulfur respiration are members of two domains: Bacteria and Archaea. Two basic links of the biogeochemical sulfur cycle of Earth have been studied: 1) the sulfur oxidizing process (occurring at aerobic conditions) and 2) the process of sulfur-reduction to hydrogen sulfide (anaerobic conditions). Sulfate-reducing bacteria (StRB) and sulfur-reducing bacteria (SrRB) are responsible for anaerobic reducing processes. At the present time the systematics of StRB include over 112 species distributed into 35 genera of Bacteria and Archaea. Moderately thermophilic and mesophilic SrRB belong to the Bacteria. The hyperthermophilic SrRB predominately belong to the domain Archaea and are included in the genera: Pyrodictium, Thermoproteus, Pyrobaculum, Thermophilum, Desulfurococcus, and Thermodiscus. The StRB and SrRB use a wide spectrum of substrates as electron donors for lithotrophic and heterotrophic type nutrition. The electron acceptors for the StRB include: sulfate, thiosulfate, sulfite, sulfur, arsenate, dithionite, tetrathionate, sulfur monoxide, iron, nitrite, selenite, fumarate, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and chlorine-containing phenol compounds. The Sulfate- and Sulfur-reducing bacteria are widely distributed in anaerobic ecosystems, including extreme environments like hot springs, deepsea hydrothermal vents, soda and high salinity lakes, and cryo-environments. Furthermore, the StRB and SrRB have Astrobiological significance as these anaerobic extremophiles may represent the dominant relic life forms that inhabited our planet during the extensive volcanic activity in the Earth's early evolutionary period.

Pikuta, Elena V.↗
NASA NTRS2012

In Situ Carbon and Sulfur Isotope Analysis of Archean Organic Matter and Pyrite

Stable isotopic compositions of biologically important elements (e.g., C and S) in sedimentary rocks are valuable biosignatures to the extent that they indicate the presence and variable expression of microbial metabolisms in space and time. Strong interactions between the carbon and sulfur cycles (e.g., via organic matter remineralization during microbial sulfate reduction) make coordinated, in situ C and S isotope analysis by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) a particularly powerful tool. In rocks ranging in age from 2.7-2.5 Ga, expansions in the ranges of delta C-13 of organic matter and delta S-34 of pyrite likely reflect the increasing influence of oxygenic photosynthesis in the surface ocean (as well as methane and sulfur metabolisms in deeper waters), whereas the large range of mass independent sulfur isotope fractionation (Delta S-33) suggests that the atmosphere remained anoxic until approx 2.4 Gyr ago. We report in situ delta C-13 measurements of organic matter in the approx 2.7-2.6 Ga Carawine Dolomite, Marra Mamba Iron Formation, and Jeerinah, Wittenoom, and Tumbiana Formations, as well as the approx 2.5 Ga Mount McRae Shale. We also report in situ delta S-24 and Delta S-33 measurements of pyrite associated with organic matter in a subset of these samples. In a single square cm sample of the Tumbiana Formation with bulk delta C-13(sub org) of -49.7% (VPDB), two distinct kerogen types have delta C-13 values, measured in situ, consistent with oxygenic photosynthesis (-33%) and methane metabolism (-52%). In a sample from the ABDP-9 core, radiobitumen associated with a uraniferous mineral grain is C-13-enriched by 8% (-26.8%0) relative to average in situ kerogen (-34.9%0) and similar in delta C-13 to solvent extractable hydrocarbons from the Mount McRae Shale (avg delta C-13 = -27.1 %). Average reproducibility for delta C-13 was 0.4% (2 SD) using a 6 micron spot and 0.8% using a 3 micron spot. In situ sulfur isotope analyses of 33 authigenic pyrite grains in 3 samples of the ABDP-9 core using a 10 micron spot (2 SD reproducibility = 0.4% for delta S-34 and -0.1% for Delta S-33) show a range of 28.1 % in delta S-34 (-10.3 to 17.8%) and 13.3%0 in Delta S-33 (-3.8 to 9.5%), whereas the range from 132 bulk analyses across 84 m of core is 19.4% for delta S-34 and 11.5% for Delta S-33. Coordinated, in situ carbon and sulfur isotope analyses in one ABDP-9 sample are shown. In situ values from this kerogen-pyrite association are within 0.1% of the bulk value in the case of delta C-13 and higher by several permil in the case of delta S-34 and Delta S-33. Coordinated in situ carbon and sulfur isotope analyses in rocks deposited during key intervals of environmental change (e.g., the Great Oxidation Event) can refine our understanding of the mode and tempo of change. In Earth's oldest sedimentary rocks, and in extraterrestrial samples, these coordinated in situ analyses may reveal biosignatures in the form of isotopic correlations at the scale of individual microorganisms and their microhabitats.

Williford, K. H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Data reduction and analysis for the graphite crystal X-ray spectrometer and polarimeter experiment flown aboard OSO-8 spacecraft

The documentation and software programs developed for the reception, initial processing (quickbook), and production analysis of data obtained by solar X-ray spectroscopy, stellar spectroscopy, and X-ray polarimetry experiments on OSO-8 are listed. The effectiveness and sensitivity of the Bragg crystal scattering instruments used are assessed. The polarization data polarimetric data obtained shows that some X-ray sources are polarized and that a larger polarimeter of this type is required to perform the measurements necessary to fully understand the physics of X-ray sources. The scanning Bragg crystal spectrometer was ideally suited for studying rapidly changing solar conditions. Observations of the Crab Nebula and pulsar, Cyg X-1, Cyg X-2, Cyg X-3, Sco X-1, Cen X-3, and Her X-1 are discussed as well as of 4U1656-53 and 4U1820-30. Evidence was obtained for iron line emission from Cyg X-3.

Novick, R.↗
NASA NTRS1982

XPS, AES and friction studies of single-crystal silicon carbide

The surface chemistry and friction behavior of a single crystal silicon carbide surface parallel to the 0001 plane in sliding contact with iron at various temperatures to 1500 C in a vacuum of 3 x 10 nPa are investigated using X-ray photoelectron and Auger electron spectroscopy. Results show that graphite and carbide-type carbon are seen primarily on the silicon carbide surface in addition to silicon at temperatures to 800 C by both types of spectroscopy. The coefficients of friction for iron sliding against a silicon carbide surface parallel to the 0001 plane surface are found to be high at temperatures up to 800 C, with the silicon and carbide-type carbon at maximum intensity in the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at 800 C. The concentration of the graphite increases rapidly on the surface as the temperature is increased above 800 C, while the concentrations of the carbide-type carbon and silicon decrease rapidly and this presence of graphite is accompanied by a significant decrease in friction. Preheating the surfaces to 1500 C also gives dramatically lower coefficients of friction when reheating in the sliding temperature range of from room temperature to 1200 C, with this reduction in friction due to the graphite layer on the silicon carbide surface.

Miyoshi, K.↗
NASA NTRS2014

The Global Albedo of the Moon at 1064 nm from LOLA

The Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) measures the backscattered energy of the returning altimetric laser pulse at its wavelength of 1064 nm, and these data are used to map the reflectivity of the Moon at zero-phase angle with a photometrically uniform data set. Global maps have been produced at 4 pixels per degree (about 8 kilometers at the equator) and 2 kilometers resolution within 20 deg latitude of each pole. The zero-phase geometry is insensitive to lunar topography, so these data enable characterization of subtle variations in lunar albedo, even at high latitudes where such measurements are not possible with the Sun as the illumination source. The geometric albedo of the Moon at 1064 nm was estimated from these data with absolute calibration derived from the Kaguya Multiband Imager and extrapolated to visual wavelengths. The LOLA estimates are within 2 sigma of historical measurements of geometric albedo. No consistent latitude-dependent variations in reflectance are observed, suggesting that solar wind does not dominate space weathering processes that modify lunar reflectance. The average normal albedo of the Moon is found to be much higher than that of Mercury consistent with prior measurements, but the normal albedo of the lunar maria is similar to that of Mercury suggesting a similar abundance of space weathering products. Regions within permanent shadow in the polar regions are found to be more reflective than polar surfaces that are sometimes illuminated. Limiting analysis to data with slopes less than 10 deg eliminates variations in reflectance due to mass wasting and shows a similar increased reflectivity within permanent polar shadow. Steep slopes within permanent shadow are also more reflective than similar slopes that experience at least some illumination. Water frost and a reduction in effectiveness of space weathering are offered as possible explanations for the increased reflectivity of permanent shadow; porosity is largely ruled out as the sole explanation. The south polar crater Shackleton is found to be among the most reflective craters in its size range globally but is not the most reflective, so mass wasting cannot be ruled out as a cause for the crater's anomalous reflectance. Models of the abundance of ice needed to account for the reflectance anomaly range from 3 to 14% by weight or area depending on assumptions regarding the effects of porosity on reflectance and whether ice is present as patches or is well mixed in the regolith. If differences in nanophase iron abundances are responsible for the anomaly, the permanently shadowed regions have between 50 and 80% the abundance of nanophase iron in mature lunar soil.

PSR↗
NASA NTRS1976

An experimental study of phosphate reduction and phosphorus-bearing lunar metal particles

Results are reported for two sets of experiments conducted to investigate the distribution and origin of phosphorus in lunar metal particles. The first set measured the equilibrium oxygen fugacity as a function of temperature for synthesized Fe-Ni and Fe-Ni-P alloys; the second set imposed various oxygen pressures so that the P distribution among the coexisting phases could be observed. The conditions of temperature, oxygen fugacity, and time necessary to produce P contents similar to those found in lunar metal particles are determined. The results show that: (1) the P distribution in lunar-type metal is controlled by oxygen fugacity, temperature, and bulk composition; (2) the P distribution is limited by the reaction rate at the metal surface and by the amount of phosphate in contact with the metal; (3) the nucleation and growth rate of phosphate controls the rate of P loss during oxidation; and (4) an oxygen fugacity of 10 to the -20th power atm at 950 C is required to saturate iron with P. It is concluded that a reducing species such as carbon may establish a local equilibrium and prevent oxygen communication with the surrounding rock.

Friel, J. J.↗
NASA NTRS2016

Simulated Space Radiation: Murine Skeletal Responses During Recovery and with Mechanical Stimulation

Simulated space radiation at doses similar to those of solar particle events or a round-trip sojourn to Mars (1-2Gy) may cause skeletal tissue degradation and deplete stem/progenitor cell pools throughout the body. We hypothesized that simulated space radiation (SSR) causes late, time-dependent deficits in bone structure and bone cell function reflected by changes in gene expression in response to anabolic stimuli. We used a unique sequential dual ion exposure (proton and iron) for SSR to investigate time-dependence of responses in gene expression, cell function, and microarchitecture with respect to radiation and an anabolic stimulus of axial loading (AL). Male 16-wk C57BL6/J mice (n=120 total) were exposed to 0Gy (Sham, n=10), 56Fe (2Gy, positive control dose, n=10), or sequential ions for SSR (1Gy 1H/56Fe/1H, n=10) by total body irradiation (IR), and the tissues were harvested 2 or 6 mo. later. Further, to assess the response to anabolic stimuli, we subjected additional Sham-AL (n=15) and SSR-AL (n=15) groups to rest-inserted tibial axial loading (AL) starting at 1 and 5 months post-IR (-9N, 60 cycles/day, 3 days/wk, 4 wks). Exposure to 56Fe caused a significant reduction in cancellous bone volume fraction (BV/TV) compared to Sham (-34%) and SSR (-20%) in the proximal tibia metaphysis at 2-months post-IR; however BV/TV for SSR group was not different than Sham. Both 56Fe and SSR caused significant reduction in trabecular number (Tb.N) compared to Sham (-33% and -16%, respectively). Further, Tb.N for 56Fe (2Gy) was significantly lower than SSR (-21%). Ex vivo culture of marrow cells to assess growth and differentiation of osteoblast lineage cells 6 months post-IR showed that both 56Fe and SSR exposures significantly impaired colony formation compared to Sham (-66% and -54%, respectively), as well as nodule mineralization (-90% and -51%, respectively). Two-way analysis of variance showed that both mechanical loading and radiation reduced BV/TV, mechanical loading reduced trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and radiation reduced Tb.N, at both time points. To assess acute response to mechanical stimuli, samples were harvested from a subset of Sham-AL (n=5) and SSR-AL (n=5) to measure changes in gene expression levels. Preliminary results indicate that axial loading increased expression of the antioxidant response gene Nfe2l2 and the osteoprogenitor-associated marker Runx2 in the bone marrow cells, and there was an interaction effect between axial loading and radiation at 2-months post-IR. Additional analyses of gene expression levels in the mineralized tissue are in progress. Results indicate that SSR caused persistent impairment of osteoblast colony formation and nodule mineralization 6-mo post-IR. Contrary to our hypothesis, simulated space radiation did not impair the ability of cancellous bone to respond to a mechanical anabolic stimulus, consistent with our previous findings [1]. Hence, compressive loading may be a potential countermeasure against spaceflight-induced bone loss.

Bone Loss↗
NASA NTRS2016

Simulated Space Radiation: Murine Skeletal Responses During Recovery and with Mechanical Stimulation

Simulated space radiation at doses similar to those of solar particle events or a round-trip sojourn to Mars (1-2Gy) may cause skeletal tissue degradation and deplete stem/progenitor cell pools throughout the body. We hypothesized that simulated space radiation (SSR) causes late, time-dependent deficits in bone structure and bone cell function reflected by changes in gene expression in response to anabolic stimuli. We used a unique sequential dual ion exposure (proton and iron) for SSR to investigate time-dependence of responses in gene expression, cell function, and microarchitecture with respect to radiation and an anabolic stimulus of axial loading (AL). Male 16-wk C57BL6/J mice (n=120 total) were exposed to 0Gy (Sham, n=10), 56Fe (2Gy, positive control dose, n=10), or sequential ions for SSR (1Gy 1H/56Fe/1H, n=10) by total body irradiation (IR), and the tissues were harvested 2 or 6 mo. later. Further, to assess the response to anabolic stimuli, we subjected additional Sham-AL (n=15) and SSR-AL (n=15) groups to rest-inserted tibial axial loading (AL) starting at 1 and 5 months post-IR (-9N, 60 cycles/day, 3 days/wk, 4 wks). Exposure to 56Fe caused a significant reduction in cancellous bone volume fraction (BV/TV) compared to Sham (-34%) and SSR (-20%) in the proximal tibia metaphysis at 2-months post-IR; however BV/TV for SSR group was not different than Sham. Both 56Fe and SSR caused significant reduction in trabecular number (Tb.N) compared to Sham (-33% and -16%, respectively). Further, Tb.N for 56Fe (2Gy) was significantly lower than SSR (-21%). Ex vivo culture of marrow cells to assess growth and differentiation of osteoblast lineage cells 6 months post-IR showed that both 56Fe and SSR exposures significantly impaired colony formation compared to Sham (-66% and -54%, respectively), as well as nodule mineralization (-90% and -51%, respectively). Two-way analysis of variance showed that both mechanical loading and radiation reduced BV/TV, mechanical loading reduced trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and radiation reduced Tb.N, at both time points. To assess acute response to mechanical stimuli, samples were harvested from a subset of Sham-AL (n=5) and SSR-AL (n=5) to measure changes in gene expression levels. Preliminary results indicate that axial loading increased expression of the antioxidant response gene Nfe2l2 and the osteoprogenitor-associated marker Runx2 in the bone marrow cells, and there was an interaction effect between axial loading and radiation at 2-months post-IR. Additional analyses of gene expression levels in the mineralized tissue are in progress. Results indicate that SSR caused persistent impairment of osteoblast colony formation and nodule mineralization 6-mo post-IR. Contrary to our hypothesis, simulated space radiation did not impair the ability of cancellous bone to respond to a mechanical anabolic stimulus, consistent with our previous findings. Hence, compressive loading may be a potential countermeasure against spaceflight-induced bone loss.

MURINE SKELETAL↗
NASA NTRS1995

Isolation, characterization, and primary structure of rubredoxin from the photosynthetic bacterium, Heliobacillus mobilis

Rubredoxin is a small nonheme iron protein that serves as an electron carrier in bacterial systems. Rubredoxin has now been isolated and characterized from the strictly anaerobic phototroph, Heliobacillus mobilis. THe molecular mass (5671.3 Da from the amino acid sequence) was confirmed and partial formylation of the N-terminal methionyl residue was established by matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectroscopy. The complete 52-amino-acid sequence was determined by a combination of N-terminal sequencing by Edman degradation and C-terminal sequencing by a novel method using carboxypeptidase treatment in conjunction with amino acid analysis and laser desorption time of flight mass spectrometry. The molar absorption coefficient of Hc. mobilis rubredoxin at 490 nm is 6.9 mM-1 cm-1 and the midpoint redox potential at pH 8.0 is -46 mV. The EPR spectrum of the oxidized form shows resonances at g = 9.66 and 4.30 due to a high-spin ferric iron. The amino acid sequence is homologous to those of rubredoxins from other species, in particular, the gram-positive bacteria, and the phototrophic green sulfur bacteria, and the evolutionary implications of this are discussed.

NASA Discipline Number 52-30↗
NASA NTRS2002

Effects of heavy particle irradiation and diet on amphetamine- and lithium chloride-induced taste avoidance learning in rats

Rats were maintained on diets containing either 2% blueberry or strawberry extract or a control diet for 8 weeks prior to being exposed to 1.5 Gy of 56Fe particles in the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Three days following irradiation, the rats were tested for the effects of irradiation on the acquisition of an amphetamine- or lithium chloride-induced (LiCl) conditioned taste avoidance (CTA). The rats maintained on the control diet failed to show the acquisition of a CTA following injection of amphetamine. In contrast, the rats maintained on antioxidant diets (strawberry or blueberry extract) continued to show the development of an amphetamine-induced CTA following exposure to 56Fe particles. Neither irradiation nor diet had an effect on the acquisition of a LiCl-induced CTA. The results are interpreted as indicating that oxidative stress following exposure to 56Fe particles may be responsible for the disruption of the dopamine-mediated amphetamine-induced CTA in rats fed control diets; and that a reduction in oxidative stress produced by the antioxidant diets functions to reinstate the dopamine-mediated CTA. The failure of either irradiation or diet to influence LiCl-induced responding suggests that oxidative stress may not be involved in CTA learning following injection of LiCl.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS2003

The Cytoskeleton and Force Response Mechanisms

The long term aim of this project was to define the mechanisms by which cells sense and respond to the physical forces experienced at 1g and missing in microgravity. Identification and characterization of the elements of the cells force response mechanism could provide pathways and molecules to serve as targets for pharmacological intervention to mitigate the pathologic effects of microgravity. Mechanical forces experienced by the organism can be transmitted to cells through molecules that allow cells to bind to the extracellular matrix and through other types of molecules which bind cells to each other. These molecules are coupled in large complexes of proteins to structural elements such as the actin cytoskeleton that give the cell the ability to sense, resist and respond to force. Application of small forces to tissue culture cells causes local elevation of intracellular calcium through stretch activated ion channels, increased tyrosine phosphorylation and a restructuring of the actin cytoskeleton. Using collagen coated iron oxide beads and strong magnets, we can apply different levels of force to cells in culture. We have found that force application causes the cells to polymerize actin at the site of mechanical deformation and unexpectedly, to depolymerize actin across the rest of the cell. Observations of GFP- actin expressing cells demonstrate that actin accumulates at the site of deformation within the first five minutes of force application and is maintained for many tens of minutes after force is removed. Consistent with the reinforcement of the cytoskeletal structures underlying the integrin-bead interaction, force also alters the motion of bound magnetic beads. This effect is seen following the removal of the magnetic field, and is only partially ablated by actin disruption with cytochalsin B. While actin is polymerizing locally at the site of force application, force also stimulates a global reduction in actin filament content within the cells. We have examined the roles of several actin filament disassembly factors in the global reduction of cellular actin filaments. The calcium regulated actin filament severing protein gelsolin is not necessary for the increased actin turnover, as cells derived from gelsolin null and wildtype mice still show a reduction in total actin filament content. Instead, our work suggests that the actin binding protein cofilin may be important for these changes in actin dynamics. Cofilin binds to and enhances the disassembly of actin filaments. Using immunological methods, we observe transient changes in the phosphorylation state of cofilin upon force application that suggests that cofilin may mediate actin filament turnover. Early after force application, cofilin is transiently dephosphorylated, activating its actin disassembly activity. Subsequently, we find a hyper-phosphorylation of cofilin, rendering it inactive. This reduction in cofilin activity may explain the stability of the force induced actin structuttes. In testing this hypothesis, we aimed to generate cells that express the constituitively active kinase (LIM-kinase) that phosphorylates cofilin. lnidial attempts in the cell lines used for the our previous studies proved unsuccessful. While we prepare this work for pubication, we are continuing to study other cell lines and tissue sources to determine whether they show a reduction in F-actin content after force application.

Allen, Philip Goodwin↗
NASA NTRS2018

Physical and Biological Properties of Cobalt- and Copper-Doped Calcium Phosphates as Bone Substitute Materials

Arthritis, osteoporosis, and other bone diseases and defects are common medical issues worldwide. By utilizing ceramic biomaterials as bone substitutes to treat these diseases, bone regeneration can be promoted and toxicity from the substitute material can be limited. Calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics have become popular as bone substitutes due to their biocompatibility and similarity in composition to natural bone. The purpose of this research was to investigate the physical properties and biological responses of CaP-based bone substitutes, doped with metal ions. Some metal ions are present in natural bone in small amounts, and recent studies show they affect the biological responses of CaPs significantly. Dopants such as magnesium (Mg), strontium (Sr), silicon (Si) and iron (Fe) alter the phase composition, mechanical properties, osteogenesis and angiogenesis properties of CaPs, depending on their concentration and method of addition. In the present study, the effects of cobalt (Co) and copper (Cu) on the physical and biological properties of two main CaP materials, brushite cement (BrC) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP), have been investigated. Different concentrations of dopants in forms of oxide and/or chloride were selected and their effect on phase composition, sintering behavior, density, setting time, compressive strength and in vitro interaction with osteosarcoma and osteoblast cells were studied. Different techniques of sample preparation, challenges during cement preparation and compact sample pressing, sintering, and methods of dopant addition are discussed. The presence of Cu in tricalcium phosphate was found to increase thermal stability of the material and decrease the impact of sintering temperature on porosity. In addition, Cu caused a reduction in expression of inflammatory gene markers by human osteoblast cells and an increased expression at early time points due of osteoinductive markers.The addition of Cu and Co to brushite cement caused an increase in thermal stability of the material, and the addition of Cu caused significant increase in setting time. Small dopant amounts of Co caused decrease in setting time, but higher amounts caused an increase. In addition, Cu dopant in small amounts resulted in an increase of compressive strength. Both Cu and Co led to a decrease in expression of inflammatory gene markers by osteoblast and osteosarcoma cells respectively, and Cu also caused an increase in osteoinductive marker expression. Thus, these results indicate that Cu and Co have a positive impact on the physical, mechanical and biological properties of calcium phosphate biomaterials.

Cummings, Haley V.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Flammability of Heterogeneously Combusting Metals

Most engineering materials, including some metals, most notably aluminum, burn in homogeneous combustion. 'Homogeneous' refers to both the fuel and the oxidizer being in the same phase, which is usually gaseous. The fuel and oxidizer are well mixed in the combustion reaction zone, and heat is released according to some relation like q(sub c) = delta H(sub c)c[((rho/rho(sub 0))]exp a)(exp -E(sub c)/RT), Eq. (1) where the pressure exponent a is usually close to unity. As long as there is enough heat released, combustion is sustained. It is useful to conceive of a threshold pressure beyond which there is sufficient heat to keep the temperature high enough to sustain combustion, and beneath which the heat is so low that temperature drains away and the combustion is extinguished. Some materials burn in heterogeneous combustion, in which the fuel and oxidizer are in different phases. These include iron and nickel based alloys, which burn in the liquid phase with gaseous oxygen. Heterogeneous combustion takes place on the surface of the material (fuel). Products of combustion may appear as a solid slag (oxide) which progressively covers the fuel. Propagation of the combustion melts and exposes fresh fuel. Heterogeneous combustion heat release also follows the general form of Eq.(1), except that the pressure exponent a tends to be much less than 1. Therefore, the increase in heat release with increasing pressure is not as dramatic as it is in homogeneous combustion. Although the concept of a threshold pressure still holds in heterogeneous combustion, the threshold is more difficult to identify experimentally, and pressure itself becomes less important relative to the heat transfer paths extant in any specific application. However, the constants C, a, and E(sub c) may still be identified by suitable data reduction from heterogeneous combustion experiments, and may be applied in a heat transfer model to judge the flammability of a material in any particular actual-use situation. In order to support the above assertions, two investigations are undertaken: 1) PCT data are examined in detail to discover the pressure dependence of heterogeneous combustion experiment results; and 2) heterogeneous combustion in a PCT situation is described by a heat transfer model, which is solved first in simplified form for a simple actual-use situation, and then extended to apply to PCT data reduction (combustion constant identification).

Jones, Peter D.↗
NASA NTRS2019

Building an Economical and Sustainable Lunar Infrastructure to Enable Human Missions

To enable return of human missions to the surface of the Moon sustainably, a new study was initiated to assess the feasibility of developing an evolvable, economical and sustainable lunar surface infrastructure using a public-private partnerships approach. This approach would establish partnerships between NASA and private industry to mutually develop lunar surface infrastructure capabilities to support robotic missions initially and later evolve to full-scale commercial infrastructure services in support of human missions. These infrastructure services may range from power systems, communication and navigation systems, thermal management systems, mobility systems, water and propellant production to life support systems for human habitats. The public-private partnerships approach for this study leverages best practices from NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program which introduced an innovative and economical approach for partnering with industry to develop commercial cargo transportation services to the International Space Station (ISS). In this approach, NASA and industry partners shared cost and risk throughout the development phase which led to dramatic reduction in development and operations costs of these transportation services. Following this approach, a Lunar COTS concept was conceived to develop cost-effective surface infrastructure capabilities in partnership with industry to provide economical, operational services for small-scale robotic missions. As a result, a self-contained lunar infrastructure system with power, thermal, communication and navigation elements was conceptually designed to increase capability, extend mission duration and reduce cost of small-scale robotic missions. To support human missions, this work has now been extended to analyze full-scale lunar infrastructure systems. This infrastructure system should have capabilities to support human missions from a few days to several months with minimal maintenance and replacement of parts. This infrastructure system should also maximize the use of existing lunar resources, such as, oxygen from regolith, water from ice deposits at the poles, and use of metals, such as iron and aluminum, from lunar regolith. The plan includes a buildup of these capabilities using a phased-development approach that will eventually lead to operational infrastructure services. By partnering with industry to develop and operate the infrastructure services using the COTS model, this plan should also result in significant cost savings and increased reliability. This paper will describe the Lunar COTS concept goals, objectives and approach for developing an evolvable, economical and sustainable human lunar infrastructure as well as the challenges and opportunities for development.

Zuniga, Allison↗
NASA NTRS1991

Box models for the evolution of atmospheric oxygen: an update

A simple 3-box model of the atmosphere/ocean system is used to describe the various stages in the evolution of atmospheric oxygen. In Stage I, which probably lasted until redbeds began to form about 2.0 Ga ago, the Earth's surface environment was generally devoid of free O2, except possibly in localized regions of high productivity in the surface ocean. In Stage II, which may have lasted for less than 150 Ma, the atmosphere and surface ocean were oxidizing, while the deep ocean remained anoxic. In Stage III, which commenced with the disappearance of banded iron formations around 1.85 Ga ago and has lasted until the present, all three surface reservoirs contained appreciable amounts of free O2. Recent and not-so-recent controversies regarding the abundance of oxygen in the Archean atmosphere are identified and discussed. The rate of O2 increase during the Middle and Late Proterozoic is identified as another outstanding question.

NASA Program Exobiology↗
NASA NTRS1984

Quick Look Analysis of TM Data of the Washington, District of Columbia Area

A fixed factor analysis-of-variance (ANOVA) approach was used to quantify the impact of each TM sensor characteristic (spectral, spatial, and radiometric resolutions) on classification accuracy. All assessments were made relative to MSS sensor characteristics, and the impact of each characteristic was assessed individually, and in all possible combinations. Thematic Mapper data acquired over the Washington, D.C. area on November 2, 1982 were utilized to conduct the experiment. The following results were obtained: the reduction of quantization level from eight bits to six bits caused a decrease in overall accuracy (7%); the use of only three bands (TM 2, 3 and 4) covering the isible and near infrared portion of the spectrum caused a decrease in overall accuracy (7%); and the decrease in spatial resolution resulted in an increase in overall accuracy (4%). Results indicate that the increased radiometric and spectral resolution of the TM instrument do provide increased information content. The result of the spatial resolution degradation is somewhat misleading, in that the result is more a function of spatial resolution.

Williams, D. L.↗