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On artificial Martian conditions reproduced for microbiological research.

1. It is of interest to investigate the behaviour of the terrestrial microorganisms under artificial Martian conditions. This will help to verify the hypothesis concerning a possibility of life on this planet. 2. An artificial climate chamber enables one to expose microbial cells to a simultaneous effect of such factors as temperature, pressure, gas composition and insolation: a) Temperature regime is maintained automatically by means of an electronic mechanical programme device. b) A sealed chamber insures a permanent gas mixture pressure equal to 0.1 atm. c)The spectral composition of light source is close to that of the sun spectrum. d)The chamber enables to expose microorganisms on membrane filters with diameter of 23 mm or in special quartz cells of the same diameter size. 3. The preliminary experiments have shown that not all the terrestrial forms of microorganisms do survive under artificial conditions of the Martian summer.

Bacteria↗

The microflora of the human integument during prolonged confinement.

Under conditions of long-term isolation in a sealed environment the microbial contamination of the skin and upper respiratory tract of man was much more pronounced than under normal conditions. This intensification of the contamination went on in a series of periodic increases in the amount of micro-organisms. Every such increase in micro-organisms was much more prominent than the preceding one. The harmful nature of the rise of the level of microbial contamination of human epidermal tissues was expressed by the development of bacterial population shifts and periodic increases in the number of pathogenic microbial forms.

Aerospace Medicine↗

Bacterial contamination of confined, sealed space during long-term human occupation.

The long-term presence of human beings in a closed room of small volume is accompanied by the accumulation of a common and hemolytic microflora on their bodies, clothes, in the air, and on the room surfaces. A study was made of the dynamics of the spreading of such microflora in rooms measuring from 5-21 m3 when occupied by 1-3 persons for 5-30 days. With minimal sanitation the skin, after 30-40 days, is covered with several thousands of microbes per cm2, of which the hemolytic staphylococci amount to about 500 cells per cm2. Linen contained tens of thousands of bacteria per cm2, including up to 7000 hemolytic staphylococci per cm2. Generally, air contamination increases during the experiment. The rate of increase depends on many factors, and includes, in addition to common microbes, hemolytic staphylococci, streptococci, including pathogenic ones. The distribution of microbes in the air depends on human activity, and the total number is lowered by improved sanitation. While initial surface contamination depends on preliminary disinfection, there is a steady accumulation of micro-organisms on the chamber surfaces. No Escherichia coli could be found on chamber surfaces. Most bacteria were found on horizontal surfaces, working areas and floors (thousands of microbes per cm2), while ceilings and walls yielded from units to hundreds of cells per cm2.

Air Conditioning↗

Psychological and physiological changes during isolation and confinement: I. Group dynamics and member interaction.

The isolated and confined environment of a laboratory setting was used as one of the analogous environments of long-term manned spaceflight. This setting has more advantages than the natural one in that the behavioral variables can be easily controlled. Thus, a hyperbaric chamber was used in this experiment. The subjects were five men from 22- to 26-years old who had never met before the experiment. Over a total 5-day isolation and confinement period as well as 2-day pre- and post-isolation periods, the subjects were given different kinds of physiological and psychological tasks. During these periods their behavior and communications were recorded in order to observe when the formation of a group begins and how it forms and functions. The formation of a sub-group of three men was observed on the third day of isolation, showing strong reciprocal connections among these subjects who developed bonds that were quite stable. It is, however, not known how this sub-group functioned within the large group, since the experimental period was possibly too short.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

[CAT system and its application in training for manned space flight].

As aerospace missions get increasingly frequent and complex, training becomes ever more critical. Training devices in all levels are demanded. Computer-Aided Training (CAT) system, because its economic, efficient and flexible, is attracting more and more attention. In this paper, the basic factors of CAT system were discussed; the applications of CAT system in training for manned space flight were illustrated. Then we prospected further developments of CAT system.

Astronauts↗

Potential integration of wetland wastewater treatment with space life support systems.

Subsurface-flow constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment and nutrient recycling have a number of advantages in planetary exploration scenarios: they are odorless, relatively low labor and low energy, assist in purification of water and recycling of atmospheric CO2, and can directly grow some food crops. This article presents calculations for integration of wetland wastewater treatment with a prototype ground-based experimental facility ("Mars on Earth") supporting four people showing that an area of 4-6 m2 may be sufficient to accomplish wastewater treatment and recycling. Discharge water from the wetland system can be used as irrigation water for the agricultural crop area, thus ensuring complete reclamation and utilization of nutrients within the bioregenerative life support system. Because the primary requirements for wetland treatment systems are warm temperatures and lighting, such bioregenerative systems can be integrated into space life support systems because heat from the lights may be used for temperature maintenance in the human living environment. Subsurface-flow wetlands can be modified for space habitats to lower space and mass requirements. Many of its construction requirements can eventually be met with use of in situ materials, such as gravel from the Mars surface. Because the technology does not depend on machinery and chemicals, and relies more on natural ecological mechanisms (microbial and plant metabolism), maintenance requirements (e.g., pumps, aerators, and chemicals) are minimized, and systems may have long operating lifetimes. Research needs include suitability of Martian soil and gravel for wetland systems, system sealing and liner options in a Mars base, and determination of wetland water quality efficiency under varying temperature and light regimes.

Ecological Systems, Closed↗

Energy requirements of man living in a weightless environment.

The ability to maintain energy balance is a vital factor in maintaining body composition. A negative energy balance requires that body tissue be consumed to sustain biochemical and physiological activity. Such a caloric imbalance coupled with reduced physical activity results in (among other things): a negative balance which can not be reversed by increased protein intake; negative balances for electrolytes; and a suspension of erythrocyte production. Body weight losses were experienced by all astronauts during Gemini and Apollo missions. Data on the magnitude of the changes, together with data on energy consumption, were used to calculate energy imbalances. These data, when compared with results obtained from precise energy balance measurements made on 64 men living in low pressure chambers, show close correlation. When energy requirements are expressed in kilocalories per kilogram of body weight, the difference in energy requirements among the astronauts and chamber subjects was small and not statistically significant. These data indicated that reliable prediction of energy needs for astronauts, during long-term space missions, can be made by studying either the astronauts or healthy subjects in a ground-based environment similar to that of the spacecraft. These data also indicate that changes in body weight and certain other body measurements detected during Gemini and Apollo missions were probably caused, at least in part, by a calorie deficit.

Adipose Tissue↗

Role of Cerenkov radiation in the eye-flashes observed by Apollo astronauts.

Visual phenomena in the form of colorless flashes of light were observed by astronauts in deep space when their eyes were closed and adapted to darkness. We describe in this paper laboratory experiments and calculations which indicate that many of these flashes are the result of visible light generated within the astronauts' eyeball in the form of Cerenkov radiation when a relativistic HZE particle traverses it. The sensitivity to Cerenkov radiation measured for three subjects exposed to pulses of pions and muons and the visual phenomena observed were found to be consistent with the reports of flashes observed at rates as high as 2 per minute on Apollo missions 11 through 17.

Cosmic Radiation↗

Psychological testing/trait and group dynamics during 110-day in an isolated environment.

Studies about the influence and differences of cultural and personal traits will become important for the increasing number of short-duration space flights of international crews supporting the International Space Station (ISS) and for long duration flights of international crews on ISS. The objective of this project was to investigate personal changes during 110-day isolation in the Russian Experiment Module. The Giessen Test (GT) was used to determine if personal traits of the subjects change during isolation. The GT was chosen as an individual diagnostic instrument because it includes an important range of social views and reactions. The GT reveals which characteristics a person, in this case a crew member, ascribes about him/herself (personal-picture). Questions about personal qualities were asked indirectly to better reveal psychosocial tendencies and defense mechanisms. Many personality tests focus on deriving information about how the subject "really" is. However, the GT deviates from this pure individual psychological ideal test construction and focuses on how the subject represents him/herself in psychoanalytically relevant categories in group relationships. We hypothesized that personal traits become more explicit and accentuated during prolonged confinement. Accentuations of personal traits were predicted due to the experience on MIR station where the American astronauts realized how different their Russian colleagues become compared to their common training time on the ground. The formation of subgroups was predicted, as it is often observed within different types of groups in Japanese, Russian isolation studies and at the Japanese Antarctic research station, Syowa.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

EAC trains its first international astronaut class.

After several years of planning and preparation, ESA's ISS training programme has become operational. Between 26 August and 6 September, the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) near Cologne gave the first ESA advanced training course for an international ISS astronaut class. The ten astronauts who took part--two from NASA, four from Japan and four from ESA--had begun their advanced training programme back in 2001 with sessions at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston and at the Japanese Training Centre in Tsukuba. During their stay in Cologne, the ten astronauts participated in a total of 33 classroom lessons and hands-on training sessions, which gave them a detailed overview of the systems and subsystems of the Columbus module, the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), and the related crew operations tasks. They were also introduced to the four ESA experiment facilities to be operated inside the Columbus module. After their first week of training at EAC, the astronauts were given the opportunity to see the flight model of the Columbus module being integrated at the site of ESA's ISS prime contractor, Astrium in Bremen. The second week of training at EAC included hands-on instruction on the Columbus Data Management System (DMS) using the recently installed Columbus Crew Training Facility. In preparation for the first advanced crew training session at EAC, two Training Readiness Reviews (TRR) were conducted there in June and August. These reviews were supported by training experts and astronauts from NASA, NASDA and CSA (Canada), who were introduced to ESA's advanced training concept and the development process, and then analysed and evaluated the training flow, content and instructional soundness of lessons and courses, as well as the fidelity of the training facilities and the skills of the ESA training instructors. The International Training Control Board (ITCB), made up of representatives from all of the ISS International Partners and mandated to control and coordinate all multilateral training for ISS crew and ground-support personnel, testified to ESA's readiness to provide Advanced Training by declaring the EAC TRR successful. The completion of this first training course was therefore a good opportunity for the Astronaut Training Division to assess the status of its training programme. The comments and recommendations of the training experts and the astronauts who took part have been carefully evaluated and the results are being fed back into the ongoing training development process.

Astronauts↗

[Psychological stress and coping strategies in older adults: the bio-psycho-social model].

With reference to the bio-psycho-social model, this paper will provide a comprehensive introduction to psychological stress and coping strategies in older adults, including changes in psychological development, and the relationships between such changes. Focusing on the rebuilding of a focus for and meaning of life, the article will discuss relevant approaches in psychotherapy, including life review, problem solving, and interpersonal therapy.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

[Outcome of the long-term isolation on the development of allergic reactions in humans].

Studied were consequences of long-term isolation in airtight environment for development of the type-I (IgE-antibodies production) and type-IV (involvement of sensibilized T-lymphocytes) allergic reactions in humans. No significant changes in total IgE, specific IgE-antibodies for domestic, epidermal, fungal, grass pollen and food-borne allergens or serum IL-4 level were found in the period of the 240-d isolation with the microclimate and atmospheric parameters within their normal variations, and on completion of the experiment. Yet, after 3 mos. in isolation all subjects exhibited inhibited leukocyte migration in the presence of tuberculin. These findings bear witness to an activation of sensibilized lymphocytes known as effectors of delayed hypersensitivity.

Adult↗

[Mathematical algorithm for evaluation of the human cardio-respiratory homeostatic function].

Mathematical algorithm of the cardiorespiratory homeostasis was determined by oxygen demand (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) during maximal physical loading on the bicycle ergometer; calculated and measured parameters of the physical capacity were compared in experiments with long-term (110- to 240-d) isolation of human subjects. Aerobic capacity was evaluated during incremental physical testing in the sitting position on bicycle Elema-Siemens 380-B. The following parameters were measured: peak (maximal loading) heart rate (HRpeak) and VO2, work time, and VO2 at 15 points on the Borg load scale, total aerobic test time and some others. Analysis of the homeostatic function of the cardiorespiratory system with the integral H = (h(u)du failed to state statistically reliable differences (p > 0.05) before and after isolation in group-1; however, it evidenced an increased homeostatic ability (p < 0.05) in group-2 and a decreased homeostatic ability in group-3 after isolation. Hence, the proposed mathematical algorithm showed a good agreement with the aerobic capacity parameters measured using classic methods. There was a high correlation (p < 0.05) between the homeostatic function and aerobic capacity in the groups of subjects and, therefore, determination of the cardiorespiratory homeostatic function can be considered an additional evaluative criterion.

Algorithms↗