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PubMed2002

Annular flow film characteristics in variable gravity.

Annular flow is a frequently occurring flow regime in many industrial applications. The need for a better understanding of this flow regime is driven by the desire to improve the design of many terrestrial and space systems. Annular two-phase flow occurs in the mining and transportation of oil and natural gas, petrochemical processes, and boilers and condensers in heating and refrigeration systems. The flow regime is also anticipated during the refueling of space vehicles, and thermal management systems for space use. Annular flow is mainly inertia driven with little effect of buoyancy. However, the study of this flow regime is still desirable in a microgravity environment. The influence of gravity can create an unstable, chaotic film. The absence of gravity, therefore, allows for a more stable and axisymmetric film. Such conditions allow for the film characteristics to be easily studied at low gas flow rates. Previous studies conducted by the Microgravity Research Group dealt with varying the gas or liquid mass fluxes at a reduced gravitational acceleration.(1,2) The study described here continues this work by examining the effect of changing the gravitational acceleration (hypergravity) on the film characteristics. In particular, the film thickness and the associated pressure drops are examined. The film thickness was measured using a pair of two-wire conductance probes. Experimental data was collected over a range of annular flow set points by changing the liquid and gas mass flow rates, the liquid-to-gas density ratio and the gravitational acceleration. The liquid-to-gas density ratio was varied by collecting data with helium-water and air-water at the same flow rates. The gravitational effect was examined by collecting data during the microgravity and pull-up (hypergravity) portions of the parabolic flights.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Sympathetic outflow to muscle in humans during short periods of microgravity produced by parabolic flight.

We have investigated the changes in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) from the tibial nerve during brief periods of microgravity (microG) for approximately 20 s produced by parabolic flight. MSNA was recorded microneurographically from 13 quietly seated human subjects with their knee joints extended in a jet aircraft simultaneously with the electrocardiogram, the blood pressure wave (measured with a Finapres), the respiration curve, and the thoracic fluid volume (measured by impedance plethysmography). During quiet and seated parabolic flight, MSNA was activated in hypergravity and was suppressed in microG phasically. At the entry to hypergravity at 2 G just before microG, the thoracic fluid volume was reduced by 3.2 +/- 3%, and the arterial blood pressure was lowered transiently and then gradually elevated from 89.5 +/- 1.7 to 100.2 +/- 1.7 mmHg, which caused the enhancement of MSNA by 91.4 +/- 14.2%. At the entry to microG, the thoracic fluid volume was increased by 3.4%, which lowered the mean blood pressure to 77.9 +/- 2.3 mmHg and suppressed the MSNA by 17.2%. However, this suppression lasted only approximately 10 s, followed by an enhancement of MSNA that continued for several seconds. We conclude that MSNA is suppressed and then enhanced during microG produced by parabolic flight. These changes in MSNA are in response not only to intrathoracic fluid volume changes but also to arterial blood pressure changes, both of which are caused by body fluid shifts induced by parabolic flight, and these changes are quite phasic and transient.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Effects of gravitational profiles on the rat's thermoregulatory response to cold.

Unrestrained rats were subjected to a 1-h period of cold exposure during centrifugation to characterize their ability to regulate core temperature (Tc) and to determine if this regulation was dependent on the amplitude of the hypergravic field before the cold exposure. Tc was measured in unrestrained rats by the use of a thermistor implanted adjacent to the carotid artery. One hour of cold exposure applied over the last hour of either a 1-, 4-, 7-, 13-, 19-. 25-, or 37-h period at 3 G evoked a decrease in Tc of about 3 degrees C. This fall in Tc was significantly greater than changes in Tc in cold-exposed rats at 1 G. No significant differences were found between the measured decreases in Tc observed for the 1-h cold exposures during the first 37 h at 3 G. However, when rats were subjected concurrently to cold and acceleration after 8 days at 3 G, they exhibited a smaller fall in Tc, suggesting a partial recovery of the acceleration-induced impairment of temperature regulation. In another series of experiments, the gravitational field profile was changed in amplitude in three different ways during the 3-h period preceding the 1-h cold exposure at 3 G. Despite the different gravitation field profiles before cold, the magnitude of the fall in Tc over the 1-h period of cold exposure was the same of all cases. These results suggest that the thermoregulatory impairment has a rapid onset, it a manifestation of an ongoing effect of hypergravity, and is not dependent on the prior G profile. The inability of rats to maintain Tc when cold exposed may be transient as indicated by the partial recovery of regulation by the 8th day.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of increased +Gz on chest wall mechanics in humans.

We studied the effects of head-to-foot acceleration (+Gz) on chest wall mechanics in five normal subjects seated in a human centrifuge. Results were compared with those previously obtained in the same subjects in microgravity during parabolic flights. In all subjects, end-expiratory abdominal pressure (Pga) and volume (Vab) increased with Gz. On average, end-expiratory Pga increased from 7.4 +/- 1.7 cmH2O at + 1 Gz to 14.9 +/- 2.8 cmH2O at + 3 Gz and end-expiratory Vab increased by 0.32 +/- 0.06 liter between + 1 and + 3 Gz. On the other hand, the abdominal contribution to tidal volume (Vab/VT) and abdominal compliance decreased from 34.7 +/- 5.9% and 52 +/- 6 ml/cmH2O at + 1 Gz to 29.3 +/- 5.1% and 26 +/- 4 ml/cmH2O at + 3 Gz, respectively. Changes in end-expiratory Pga were linear between 0 and + 3 Gz, but changes in end-expiratory Vab, Vab/VT, and abdominal compliance were greater in microgravity than in hypergravity. In contrast to weightlessness, which did not alter minute ventilation and tidal changes in Pga and transdiaphragmatic pressure, these variables increased with increasing Gz. These results indicate that, although changes in Gz have a linear effect on abdominal transmural pressure, hypergravity and weightlessness do not have symmetrical effects on chest wall mechanics.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1998

Cardiovascular and Valsalva responses during parabolic flight.

We investigated the integrated cardiovascular responses of 15 human subjects to the acute gravitational changes (micro- and hypergravity portions) of parabolic flight. Measurements were made with subjects quietly seated and while subjects performed controlled Valsalva maneuvers. During quiet, seated, parabolic flight, mean arterial pressure increased during the transition into microgravity but decreased as microgravity was sustained. The decrease in mean arterial pressure was accompanied by immediate reflexive increases in heart rate but by absent (or later-than-expected) reflexive increases in total vascular resistance. Mean arterial pressure responses in Valsalva phases IIl, III, and IV were accentuated in hypergravity relative to microgravity (P < 0.01, P < 0.01, and P < 0. 05, respectively), but accentuations differed qualitatively and quantitatively from those induced by a supine-to-seated postural change in 1 G. This study is the first systematic evaluation of temporal and Valsalva-related changes in cardiovascular parameters during parabolic flight. Results suggest that arterial baroreflex control of vascular resistance may be modified by alterations of cardiopulmonary, vestibular, and/or other receptor activity.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Gravity effects on regional lung ventilation determined by functional EIT during parabolic flights.

Gravity-dependent changes of regional lung function were studied during normogravity, hypergravity, and microgravity induced by parabolic flights. Seven healthy subjects were followed in the right lateral and supine postures during tidal breathing, forced vital capacity, and slow expiratory vital capacity maneuvers. Regional 1) lung ventilation, 2) lung volumes, and 3) lung emptying behavior were studied in a transverse thoracic plane by functional electrical impedance tomography (EIT). The results showed gravity-dependent changes of regional lung ventilation parameters. A significant effect of gravity on regional functional residual capacity with a rapid lung volume redistribution during the gravity transition phases was established. The most homogeneous functional residual capacity distribution was found at microgravity. During vital capacity and forced vital capacity in the right lateral posture, the decrease in lung volume on expiration was larger in the right lung region at all gravity phases. During tidal breathing, the differences in ventilation magnitudes between the right and left lung regions were not significant in either posture or gravity phase. A significant nonlinearity of lung emptying was determined at normogravity and hypergravity. The pattern of lung emptying was homogeneous during microgravity.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Tidal volume single-breath washin of SF6 and CH4 in transient microgravity.

We performed tidal volume single-breath washins (SBW) by using tracers of different diffusivity and varied the time spent in microgravity (microG) before the start of the tests to look for time-dependent effects. SF(6) and CH(4) phase III slopes decreased by 35 and 26%, respectively, in microG compared with 1 G (P < 0.05), and the slope difference between gases disappeared. There was no effect of time in microG, suggesting that neither the hypergravity period preceding microG nor the time spent in microG affected gas mixing at volumes near functional residual capacity. In previous studies using SF(6) and He (Lauzon A-M, Prisk GK, Elliott AR, Verbanck S, Paiva M, and West JB. J Appl Physiol 82: 859-865, 1997), the vital capacity SBW showed an increase in slope difference between gases in transient microG, the opposite of the decrease in sustained microG. In contrast, tidal volume SBW showed a decrease in slope difference in both microG conditions. Because it is only the behavior of the more diffusive gas that differed between maneuvers and microG conditions, we speculate that, in the previous vital capacity SBW, the hypergravity period preceding the test in transient microG provoked conformational changes at low lung volumes near the acinar entrance.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Optomotor behaviour in Xenopus laevis tadpoles as a measure of the effect of gravity on visual and vestibular neural integration.

The ability of aquatic vertebrates to maintain their position requires integration of visual and vestibular sensory information. To understand better how aquatic animals integrate such information, we measured the optomotor behaviour of Xenopus laevis tadpoles raised in growth chambers in microgravity (< 10(-3)g), normal gravity (1 g), hypergravity (3 g) and on a slowly rotating clinostat (simulated microgravity). The goal of this research was to determine how development in an altered gravitational force field affects the visual- and vestibular-dependent behaviour of tadpoles. This research represents the first time that the optomotor behaviour of an organism raised from fertilization in microgravity has been tested. Significant differences were observed in the optomotor behaviour among the four gravity treatments. When first exposed to normal gravity, the microgravity-raised tadpoles exhibited the strongest (or most positive) optomotor behaviour, while the 3 g centrifuge tadpoles showed no optomotor response. Some abnormal behaviours (such as erratic swimming, lying motionless and abnormal swimming posture) were observed in the tadpoles raised in altered gravity on the initial day of testing. One day later, the tadpoles raised in hypergravity did not differ significantly in their optomotor behaviour from control tadpoles raised in normal gravity. However, tadpoles raised in microgravity still displayed an exaggerated optomotor response. One week after the tadpoles had been introduced to normal gravity, there was no longer a significant difference in optomotor behaviour among the different gravity treatments. This convergence of optomotor behaviour by tadpoles from the different treatment reflects the acclimation of their vestibular systems to normal gravity.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[The cell as a gravity-dependent biomechanic system].

In the period of 1995-1997 experimental and theoretical studies with various biomechanic objects, i.e. individual cells and cell associations, were performed under changed gravity (0.00001-5 g). Experimental investigations were conducted using clinostats and centrifuges to model effects of hypo- and hypergravity, and aboard space vehicles in real microgravity. Cell cultures in vitro including fibroblasts and osteoblasts on a solid glass or plastic substrate served as objects of the studies. Changes in value and direction of the gravity vector were found to modify the morphophysiological characteristics of cells: structural organization (spatial rearrangement of the intracell component, changes in forms, sizes and quantity of cells) and functional activity (alterations in energy expenditure and intensity of intracellular metabolism). The data suggest that there should be mechanisms of gravitational sensitivity in living systems on the cellular level. As was stated, sensitivity of unicellular free-living organisms to gravity is mostly defined by the motor activity determined by the level of general metabolism. Morphological characteristics (form, size and mass) are of secondary importance. Theoretical analysis resulted in correction of one of the principle postulates of gravitational biology stating a direct link between size (mass) and gravitational sensitivity of organism. Described were consistent patterns of growth, development, and behavior of unicellular cultures in gravitational fields. Strengthening of the force of gravity (hypergravity) leads to eventual deceleration of cell growth and diminution of biomass gain. On the other hand, the spaceflight environment (microgravity) stimulates growth mechanisms. In our opinion, behind these gravitational effects are altered levels of energy spent by cells to overcome the force of gravity. Opposite trends were observed in experiments with cell cultures in vitro. During space microgravity, fibroblast cultures on the solid substrate decreased the growth rate, and inhibited cell division and migration within the substrate. Compared to the Earth's gravity, under elevated gravity these parameters were noticeably higher. It was demonstrated that the main cause of the unfavorable effects of space microgravity on the cellular level is decay in the adherence of cells to the substrate. Explored were also the most probable mechanisms of the effects of changed gravity on the cell as a biomechanic structure. Specialized and non-specialized graviceptors of various types of cells were crypt-analyzed and classified. In future, investigations should be angled for elucidation of the role of intracellular components in perception and implementation of the gravitational stimulus, and description of quantitative characteristics of energy exchange and metabolism in cells as a function of gravity force and direction.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Ultrastructure of the neuromuscular junctions in the rat soleus muscle under varying gravity conditions].

Changes in the ultrastructure of neuromuscular junctions have been considered as an index to adaptation of Wistar rats (whose pre- and postnatal ontogenesis proceeded on a centrifuge under constant rotation until the age of two months) to the hypergravity conditions (2G) and, then, to earth gravity (1G): on the 2nd and 15th days after centrifuge stoppage. The dynamic of synaptic vesicles was shown: their number increased at 2G and gradually decreased at 1G. Local damage of muscle fibers, partial separation of the motor axonal terminal from intrafusal fiber, and membrane twisting were noted at the increased gravity-dependent static load (2G). Neuromuscular junctions with signs of remodeling occurred more frequently in the experimental rats than in the control ones. It was proposed that adaptation of rats to 1G gravity after a prolonged sojourn under the hypergravity conditions (2G) was not completed within the studied period.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Effects of a 2x gravity environment on the ultrastructure of the gerbil parathyroid gland.

A number of studies concerning the effects of hypergravity on bone have shown increases in bone mass or bone dimensions. Correlative studies, which could provide clues to the mechanism for such a response, have been lacking. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the ultrastructure of parathyroid glands of Mongolian gerbils exposed to a continuous 2 X gravity force for 60 d. It was found that the experimental animals had parathyroid glands which had a greater percentage of cheif cells in the active stage of their secretory cycle when compared with control animals. This result was interpreted to indicate an increase in parathyroid gland secretory activity and, hence, and increase in parathyroid hormone release. It was suggested that increased parathyroid secretory activity was necessary to maintain serum calcium levels of hypergravity animals within normal limits. Cellular forms resembling water clear cells and highly compact, degenerating cells were described in experimental animals but not in controls. Areas suggestive of cellular dissolution and disorganization were also reported in experimental parathyroids

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Calcium/calmodulin-mediated gravitropic response in plants.

Calcium and calmodulin (CaM) play an important role in gravity signal transduction. However, the molecular and biochemical mechanisms involved in gravity signal transduction are not clearly understood. It is becoming evident that hydrogen peroxide is involved in gravity-induced response. Recent results indicate that Ca 2+/CaM is involved in hydrogen peroxide homeostasis by regulating catalase activity in plants (Yang and Poovaiah, 2002). It is well established that auxin controls differential growth during gravitropic bending. Results indicated that an auxin-responsive gene family (SAURs) encodes for Ca 2+ /CaM-binding proteins (Yang and Poovaiah, 2000a). To investigate the effects of gravity on the expression of genes involved in Ca 2+/CaM-mediated signaling, Arabidopsis and corn seedlings were subjected to simulated microgravity using the Random Positioning Machine (RPM), and hypergravity using the MidiCAR centrifuge. The changes in mRNA levels were studied. Selective and significant differences in gene expression were observed in simulated microgravity- and hypergravity- treated plants. The relevance of these genes in gravity signal perception and transduction is discussed.

NASA Discipline Plant Biology↗
PubMed2002

Gravity and cyclic GMP levels in melanocytic cells.

Guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) is a major second messenger molecule, that is believed to play a role in various physiological and pathophysiological processes. Here we report that hypergravity induces differential effects on cyclic GMP turnover in melanocytic cells. Nonmetastatic melanoma cells responded to long-time exposure (24 h) of hypergravity (up to 5 x g) with decrease in intracellular cyclic GMP accumulation in the presence of an universal inhibitor of phosphodiesterases (IBMX), whereas the extracellular cyclic GMP increase. In contrast, there were no changes in cyclic GMP turnover in metastatic melanocytes. The expression of the guanylyl cyclases appeared to be not affected. These results suggest that cyclic GMP signaling may be involved in adaptation of human melanocytes to altered gravity conditions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2002

Pancreatic cell responses to primary and repeated 2 G influence.

The pancreas of the rats exposed to primary and repeated prolonged hypergravity was studied by means of cytological methods. The rats were rotated on centrifuge at 2 G for 19 days and then after 30-day adaptation to 1 G were repeatedly exposed to 2 G for 5 days simultaneously with the rats first subjected to 5-day 2 G. After 5-day and 19-day hypergravity in pancreatic beta-cells the signs of decrease in insulin production were found. Adaptation of rats to 1 G for 30 days restored this process. Repeated 2 G for 5 days induced in beta-cells the changes of structure and hormonal product content indicating the pronounced increase in insulin synthesis and secretion. Response of alpha-cells to repeated 5-day 2 G was in parallel with beta-cell reactions.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1992

Further evidence to support disconjugate eye torsion as a predictor of space motion sickness.

Disconjugate eye torsion in hypo- and hypergravity of parabolic flight was examined in four former astronauts and four previously tested ex-astronauts to replicate an earlier study and to further test the asymmetry hypothesis of otolith function. Results in the new subjects supported the asymmetry hypothesis and confirmed previous findings that those with low scores of torsional disconjugacy on the KC-135 did not suffer space motion sickness in their prior Shuttle missions while those with high scores did. Tilting subjects with high disconjugacy scores slightly to one side and the other failed to find a position that decreased disconjugacy in hypergravity, leading to the conclusion that a simple planar asymmetry about the y-axis was probably not the cause of the observed torsional differences in the two eyes. Disconjugacy increased at 0 G with increasing parabolas, much more so in subjects who had suffered SMS. Because of this, 10 to 20 parabolas were deemed to be a more certain discriminator than a fewer number.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed2004

Cell proliferation of Paramecium tetraurelia under clinorotation.

It has been reported that Paramecium proliferates faster under microgravity in space, and slower under hypergravity (Kato et al., 2003). Effects of gravity on cell proliferation could be discussed in terms of energetics of swimming. Because of the characteristics of 'gravikinesis' as well as 'gravitaxis', Paramecium would decrease the energy expenditure under microgravity and increase it under hypergravity. The larger stock of energy would enhance the proliferation under microgravity. In order to simulate the effect of microgravity, we investigated the proliferation under clinorotation. When cells were rotated at 2.5 rpm, the proliferation rate decreased. Similar but less pronounced decrease was also found under low speed clinorotation (0.2 rpm).

Animals↗
PubMed1991

[Cardiovascular system function in mitral valve prolapse in fighter pilots].

Echocardiogram examination of 250 young fighter pilots has revealed that 15 aviators had mitral valve prolapse (MVP) without symptoms of pronounced regurgitation. Their functional indexes of cardiovascular system at rest or dosed physical load at veloergometer tests were normal. Only in 3 pilots were marked rare supraventricular or ventricular extrasystoles during ECG monitoring or veloergometria. Performance capability of all pilots was sufficient. 13 pilots with MVP in examination of their tolerance to +Gz hypergravity at the levels of 6 G or more for 15 s had frequent polytop or group ventricular extrasystole. There was an ordinary aggravation of extrasystole in aviators with more deep and bilateral MVP. The article makes a conclusion that on the basis of medical flight expertise a thorough selection must be made concerning possibility of every pilot with MVP to carry out flight at high manoeuvring aircraft of new generation taking into account the gravity of prolapse and tolerance to high +Gz hypergravity more than 5 G.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Epidermal growth factor-induced expression of c-fos is influenced by altered gravity conditions.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) activates a well characterized signal transduction system in human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells, which leads to rapid and transient expression of the c-fos proto-oncogene. In order to investigate the influence of altered gravity on EGF-induced signal transduction, we have studied the EGF-induced c-fos expression under simulated hypo- and hypergravity conditions. In this report we show that EGF-induced fos expression is decreased under simulated hypogravity conditions, while hypergravity has a stimulatory effect on EGF-induced fos expression. These results show that the EGF-activated signal transduction system is influenced by gravity, and that gravity exerts its effects already in the early phases of the signal transduction cascade.

Blotting, Northern↗