Results for “Limb loss” — Page 5

NASA NTRS2003

Development of a Vibration Based Countermeasure to Inhibit the Bone Erosion and Muscle Deterioration That Parallels Spaceflight

The extent of bone and muscle loss in astronauts on missions longer than 30 days poses significant acute and chronic health risks. Recent work in a variety of species has revealed that low magnitude, high frequency (25-90 Hz) mechanical stimulation is anabolic and may inhibit hypothesis that short-term, low-intensi(y mechanical in the lower limb that parallels extended exposure to microgravity. If this experiment is selected for flight, 12 right leg serves as a contralateral control. Each astronaut will undergo treatment for 10 minutes per day, five days Pre- and post-flight bone and muscle testing will be used to assess efficacy as well as intra-subject comparison of the experimental leg to the control leg.

Kaplan, Tamara↗

NASA NTRS1987

A radiative bow shock wave (?) driven by nuclear ejecta in a Seyfert galaxy

New VLA maps at 2 cm of the 13-arcsec-scale linear radio source in the center of NGC 1068 are described. The northeast lobe shows a limb-brightened conical morphology, very sharp 'leading' edges, and a magnetic field running parallel to these edges. The spectral index between 2 and 6 cm in these line-brightened regions is near 1.0. The northeast subpeak has a very steep radio spectrum between 18 and 2 cm which is attributed to inverse Compton losses of the relativistic electrons on the infrared photons. The spectral indices in the southwest lobe lie in the range 0.9-1.5 except in its northern parts, where a much larger index is found. The northeast lobe radio emission could arise in either the cocoon of old jet material which has passed through the internal shock in the ejecta and blown out to either side, or in interstellar material compressed by a bow shock wave driven into the galactic ISM.

Wilson, Andrew S.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Spectral irradiance curve calculations for any type of solar eclipse

A simple procedure is described for calculating the eclipse function (EF), alpha, and hence the spectral irradiance curve (SIC), (1-alpha), for any type of solar eclipse: namely, the occultation (partial/total) eclipse and the transit (partial/annular) eclipse. The SIC (or the EF) gives the variation of the amount (or the loss) of solar radiation of a given wavelength reaching a distant observer for various positions of the moon across the sun. The scheme is based on the theory of light curves of eclipsing binaries, the results of which are tabulated in Merrill's Tables, and is valid for all wavelengths for which the solar limb-darkening obeys the cosine law: J = sub c (1 - X + X cost gamma). As an example of computing the SIC for an occultation eclipse which may be total, the calculations for the March 7, 1970, eclipse are described in detail.

Deepak, A.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Skeletal muscle metabolism in hypokinetic rats

This grant focused on the mechanisms of metabolic changes associated with unweighting atrophy and reduced growth of hind limb muscles of juvenile rats. Metabolic studies included a number of different areas. Amino acid metabolic studies placed particular emphasis on glutamine and branched-chain amino acid metabolism. These studies were an outgrowth of understanding stress effects and the role of glucocorticoids in these animals. Investigations on protein metabolism were largely concerned with selective loss of myofibrillar proteins and the role of muscle proteolysis. These investigations lead to finding important differences from denervation and atrophy and to define the roles of cytosolic versus lysosomal proteolysis in these atrophy models. A major outgrowth of these studies was demonstrating an ability to prevent atrophy of the unweighted muscle for at least 24 hours. A large amount of work concentrated on carbohydrate metabolism and its regulation by insulin and catecholamines. Measurements focused on glucose transport, glycogen metabolism, and glucose oxidation. The grant was used to develop an important new in situ approach for studying protein metabolism, glucose transport, and hormonal effects which involves intramuscular injection of various agents for up to 24 hours. Another important consequence of this project was the development and flight of Physiological-Anatomical Rodent Experiment-1 (PARE-1), which was launched aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in September 1991. Detailed descriptions of these studies can be found in the 30 peer-reviewed publications, 15 non-reviewed publications, 4 reviews and 33 abstracts (total 82 publications) which were or are scheduled to be published as a result of this project. A listing of these publications grouped by area (i.e. amino acid metabolism, protein metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and space flight studies) are included.

Tischler, Marc E.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Mineral distribution in rat skeletons after exposure to a microgravity model

Exposure to space flight models induces changes in the distribution of bone mineral in the human skeleton that has the features of a gravitational gradient. Regional bone mineral measurements with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in male adults exposed to head-down tilt bed rest for 30 days shown non-significant decrements in the pelvis and legs with 10% increases in the head region. Horizontal bed rest for 17 weeks reveals losses of bone mineral ranging from 2.2 to 10.4% from the lumbar spine to the calcaneus and an increase of 3.4% in the skull. Investigation of this phenomena would be most definitively carried out in an animal model. One candidate is the flight simulation model in the rat which removes body weight from the hind limbs and induces a cephalad fluid shift by suspending the animal by the tail. Weanling rats exposed to this model showed bone mineral to be lower in the hind limbs and higher in the skull after 3 weeks. These finds are similar in older 200 g animals after 2 weeks tail suspension. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of age on the distribution of skeletal mineral in this model.

Arnaud, Sara B.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Stratospheric ClO and ozone from the Microwave Limb Sounder on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite

Concentrations of atmospheric ozone and of ClO (the predominant form of reactive chlorine responsible for stratospheric ozone depletion) are reported for both the Arctic and Antarctic winters of the past 18 months. Chlorine in the lower stratosphere was almost completely converted to chemically reactive forms in both the northern and southern polar winter vortices. This occurred in the south long before the development of the Antarctic ozone hole, suggesting that ozone loss can be masked by influx of ozone-rich air.

Waters, J. W.↗

NASA NTRS1998

A Spaceflight Magnetic Bearing Equipped Optical Chopper with Six-Axis Active Control

This paper describes the development of an ETU (Engineering Test Unit) rotary optical chopper with magnetic bearings. An ETU is required to be both flight-like, nearly identical to a flight unit without the need for material certifications, and demonstrate structural and performance integrity. A prototype breadboard design previously demonstrated the feasibility of meeting flight performance requirements using magnetic bearings. The chopper mechanism is a critical component of the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) which will be flown on EOS-CHEM (Earth Observing System-Chemistry). Particularly noteworthy are the science requirements which demand high precision positioning and minimal power consumption along with full redundancy of coils and sensors in a miniature, lightweight package. The magnetic bearings are unique in their pole design to minimize parasitic losses and utilize collocated optical sensing. The motor is of an unusual disk-type ironless stator design. The ETU design has evolved from the breadboard design. A number of improvements have been incorporated into the ETU design. Active thrust control has been added along with changes to improve sensor stability, motor efficiency, and touchdown and launch survivability. It was necessary to do all this while simultaneously reducing the mechanism volume. Flight-like electronics utilize a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and contain all sensor electronics and drivers on a single five inch by nine inch circuit board. Performance test results are reported including magnetic bearing and motor rotational losses.

Blumenstock, Kenneth A.↗

NASA NTRS1998

A Spaceflight Magnetic Bearing Equipped Optical Chopper with Six-Axis Active Control

This paper describes the development of an ETU (Engineering Test Unit) rotary optical chopper with magnetic bearings. An ETU is required to be both flight-like, nearly identical to a flight unit without the need for material certifications, and demonstrate structural and performance integrity. A prototype breadboard design previously demonstrated the feasibility of meeting flight performance requirements using magnetic bearings. The chopper mechanism is a critical component of the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) which will be flown on EOS-CHEM (Earth Observing System-Chemistry). Particularly noteworthy are the science requirements which demand high precision positioning and minimal power consumption along with full redundancy of coils and sensors in a miniature, lightweight package. The magnetic bearings are unique in their pole design to minimize parasitic losses and utilize collocated optical sensing. The motor is of an unusual disk-type ironless stator design. The ETU design has evolved from the breadboard design. A number of improvements have been incorporated into the ETU design. Active thrust control has been added along with changes to improve sensor stability, motor efficiency, and touchdown and launch survivability. It was necessary to do all this while simultaneously reducing the mechanism volume. Flight-like electronics utilize a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and contain all sensor electronics and drivers on a single five inch by nine inch circuit board. Performance test results are reported including magnetic bearing and motor rotational losses.

Blumenstock, K. A.↗

NASA NTRS1998

A Spaceflight Magnetic Bearing Equipped Optical Chopper with Six-Axis Active Control

This paper describes the development of an ETU (Engineering Test Unit) rotary optical chopper with magnetic bearings. An ETU is required to be both flight-like, nearly identical to a flight unit without the need for material certifications, and demonstrate structural and performance integrity. A prototype breadboard design previously demonstrated the feasibility of meeting flight performance requirements using magnetic bearings. The chopper mechanism is a critical component of the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) which will be flown on EOS-CHEM (Earth Observing System-Chemistry). Particularly noteworthy are the science requirements which demand high precision positioning and minimal power consumption along with full redundancy of coils and sensors in a miniature, lightweight package. The magnetic bearings are unique in their pole design to minimize parasitic losses and utilize collocated optical sensing. The motor is of an unusual disk-type ironless stator design. The ETU design has evolved from the breadboard design. A number of improvements have been incorporated into the ETU design. Active thrust control has been added along with changes to improve sensor stability, motor efficiency, and touchdown and launch survivability. It was necessary to do all this while simultaneously reducing the mechanism volume. Flight-like electronics utilize a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) and contain all sensor electronics and drivers on a single five inch by nine inch circuit board. Performance test results are reported including magnetic bearing and motor rotational losses.

Blumenstock, Kenneth A.↗

NASA NTRS2004

High Salt Intake Promotes Urinary Loss of Vitamin D Metabolites by Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats in a Space Flight Model

Vitamin D metabolism in the Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rat, a model of salt-induced hypertension, differs from that in the Dahl salt-resistant (R) rat. We have demonstrated that female S rats are more vulnerable than female R rats to decreases in plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-(OH)2D) concentrations during hind limb unloading (a space flight model). We report here on the response of the vitamin D endocrine system of S and R rats to hind limb unloading during high salt intake. Dahl female rats (9.7-week-old) were tail-suspended (hind limb unloaded) for 28 days, while fed a diet containing twice the salt in standard rat chow (2 % sodium chloride). Control rats were fed the same diet, but were not hind limb unloaded. Vitamin D metabolites were analyzed by HPLC and radioimmunoassay kits from Diasorin.

Thierry-Palmer, M.↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Mapping the seasonal variability of Titan’s upper atmospheric gases using ALMA

We present a study of the impact of seasonal effects on the spatial distribution of Titan’s atmospheric gases HNC, CH3CN, and HC3N over a timescale of less than a Titan month (9 Earth months). These molecules are synthesized primarily in the upper and middle atmosphere as a result of CH4 and N2 photochemistry, and are redistributed around Titan’s globe as a result of diffusion and zonal and meridional circulation. With observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) obtained in August 2016 [1] and May 2017 [2], we produced high-resolution, spectrally and spatially resolved maps of the emission from these gases. These observations are contemporaneous with the end of the Cassini mission (around the time of the northern summer solstice), allowing for studies of seasonal variations in Titan’s organic chemistry through analysis of the production, destruction, and transport of complex molecules. We observed a strong reduction of 41% ± 4% in the HC3N flux coming from the north pole, while CH3CN and HNC remained relatively stable (within errors) over the 9 month period of our observations. In the south pole, CH3CN presented a 31% ± 10% increase, while HNC saw a reduction of 20% ± 8%, and HC3N remained fairly stable (within errors). The HNC emission comes primarily from the highest (thermospheric) altitudes, and is distributed more uniformly about Titan’s limb than HC3N and CH3CN; the latter two molecules show strong polar enhancements due to meridional circulation. The steep decline in the HC3N north polar concentration is consistent its short photochemical lifetime (compared to HNC and CH3CN), combined with a reduction in meridional transport of gases produced at lower latitudes, towards the northern (summer) pole. The loss of emission of HC3N in the northern hemisphere is also consistent with the breakdown of Titan’s northern polar vortex during the onset of the northern summer, leading to a loss of confinement of these species [3].

Titan↗

NASA NTRS1979

Nonequilibrium ionization in solar and stellar winds

Substantial and systematic departures from ionization equilibrium can occur in the solar transition region and corona when mass outflows are present. Modeling calculations illustrate the general characteristics of the ionization balance in such regions. The presence of nonequilibrium conditions suggests a natural explanation for the extended region of EUV line emission that is observed above the solar limb. Comparison with observations of a coronal hole on the disk indicates that outflow may not start until temperatures of about 250,000 K are reached. Additional consequences include a diminution of the density discrepancy between ultraviolet and radio observations of coronal holes, and potential effects on the energy balance in solar and stellar atmospheres undergoing mass loss.

Dupree, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS1991

TALON and CRADLE: Systems for the rescue of tumbling spacecraft and astronauts

Advanced pressure suit and tool designs are beginning to allow extravehicular astronauts to repair space vehicles and so increase mission life and system reliability. A common spacecraft failure that is a severe challenge to the rescue mission planner is loss of attitude control resulting in tumbling motion. If an extravehicular astronaut flying the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) 'falls' into a tumble, the result could be loss of life. TALON (Tumble Arresting Large Oscillation Nullifier) is a device capable of capturing a target in an uncontrolled three-axis tumble. CRADLE (Concentric Rotating Astronaut Detumble Lifesaving Equipment) is a similar device sized to rescue a suited astronaut. The two rescue vehicles work on the same basic principle. They are structural shells with articulated limbs which can surround a tumbling target and thus align both the chaser and target centers of mass (CM).

Idle, Dunning, V↗

NASA NTRS1983

The validity of an animal model for experiments related to weightlessness

Animal evolution has witnessed morphological and physiological adaptations to gravitational forces. In the rat, hind limb muscles can be used to illustrate a range of load bearing functions: soleus - gastrocnemius = plantaris - extensor digitorum longus (EDL). A harness suspension apparatus is used to induce hypokinesia and hypodynamia (H&H) and to simulate responses comparable to those seen in weightlessness (i.e., COSMOS experiments). After one and two weeks of suspension H&H, there is muscle atrophy with a loss in muscle mass; the result of loss in muscle protein. Concommitantly, there is a decrease in RNA, but not in DNA content. The effects are greatest in the soleus and least in the EDL. These recent findings, in concert with earlier reports of increased nitrogenous excretion, suggest that both decreased protein synthesis and increased protein catabolism are characteristic of muscle atrophy. Recovery is seen in terms of reversal of these effects after removal from suspension.

Musacchia, X. J.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Effects of 10 days 6 degrees head-down tilt on the responses to fluid loading and lower body negative pressure

In an international collaborative project six normal male subjects were studied before, during and after 10 days 6 degrees HDT. Fluid intake was controlled at 40 ml/(kgbw day). Urine volume and body weight were determined daily. Fluid loading and LBNP were performed in all three phases of the study. Body weight diminished by 2.6% because of fluid loss. Blood volume diminished by 13%. The responses to fluid loading were similar in the three phases of the study. Sixty minutes after end of infusion only 5.5% of the infused saline remained in the intravascular compartment. Excess interstitial fluid was eliminated in the next 24 hs but a negative balance was recorded also in the following day. The compliance of the lower limbs expressed as the rate of limb volume change/unit LBNP change was increased at the end of the HDT phase and during the post HDT phase. The set point of intravascular volume was defended, as shown by the response to FL. HDT increased the compliance of the lower limbs.

Non-NASA Center↗

NASA NTRS1983

Glucocorticoid sensitivity, disuse, and the regulation of muscle mass

A new noninvasive immobilization procedure to be used on rats has been developed to study immobilization-induced muscle hypersensitivity to normal glucocorticoid concentration, subsequent muscle atrophy, and atrophy recovery. The immobilization procedure involves encasing the hind limb in a light-weight plasticlike cast (10 percent the usual plaster weight), completely resistant to animal gnawing. The effects of right-angle immobilization of the ankle on the slow fiber soleus, and the fast fiber extensor digitorum longus, resemble the effects of weightlessness. The increased concentration of glucocorticoid receptor sites in immobilized and denervated muscle is discussed, along with the chronic loss of muscle mass that occurs in practically all dystrophies. It is concluded that lack of mechanical work in a zero gravity environment is a major cause of glucocorticoid hypersensitivity in the body's musculature.

Almon, R. R.↗

NASA NTRS1997

A Biomechanical Comparison of 1-G and Fully-Loaded Simulated Zero-Gravity Locomotion

Exercise will almost certainly play an integral part in minimizing the bone mineral loss and muscular atrophy that occur during spaceflight. It has been hypothesized that an effective exercise regimen can be developed to elicit loads on the lower extremities and require muscle actions which resemble those encountered on Earth. The Penn State Zero-Gravity Simulator (PSZS) is a device which suspends subjects horizontally from multiple latex cords, with each cord negating the weight of a limb segment. A treadmill mounted on the wall under the PSZS enables subjects to run in simulated 0G. Subjects wear a harness to which a number of springs, which provide a gravity replacement load, are connected. The opposite end of each spring is connected to the side of the treadmill. During exercise, astronauts currently wear a similar harness in which the spring tethering load pulls at both the waist and shoulders. Ground reaction forces, muscular activations, and joint angles of the left leg during overground, treadmill, and fully-loaded zero-gravity simulated (ZLS) locomotion were assessed in order to gain insight into the effectiveness of the exercise regimen used by NASA to prevent the muscular atrophy and bone demineralization which occur in weightlessness. There were three hypotheses to this research. It was hypothesized that there will be no differences in peak ground reaction forces and peak loading rates between overground gait and gait in the full body weight loaded conditions in the ZLS. A second hypothesis was that that there will be no differences in hip, knee, and ankle joint positions between walking or running overground, on a standard treadmill, and in full bodyweight loaded conditions in the ZLS. The third hypothesis was that the muscular activations, as a percentage of maximal voluntary contraction, will be similar between walking or running overground, on a standard treadmill, and in full body-weight loaded conditions in the ZLS.

McCrory, Jean L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

P-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) of limb muscles during bedrest with exercise countermeasures

Nineteen volunteers in bed with head down tilt (-6 deg) for 1 month and doing or not exercise training while in bed (lido or ergometer) had their limb muscle studied by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A protocol of repetitive exercise in the magnet was set and a wooden probe designed to support the limb and to allow exercise. Spectra were recorded continuously during the protocol. In each spectrum, inorganic phosphate, phosphocreatin, adenosin triphosphate, and pH were measured. All the subjects were studied before, after bedrest, and 6 weeks later. After 1 month, the lido group show no changes in the spectra of their leg muscles while the group doing no exercise or ergometer do. For the arms, a loss of muscle function is only seen in the group doing no exercise.

Berry, P.↗