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PubMed1973

Biomechanics of locomotion in subgravity.

The speed of walking or running on the moon as compared with earth is appreciably reduced, in spite of mechanisms of compensation taking place such a forward leaning of the body and an increase of the horizontal component of the push of the foot on the ground. However on the moon the same speed of locomotion as on earth can be reached by shifting to a different mechanism of locomotion, i. e. progression by jumps, which becomes possible on the moon because of the reduction of the body weight. The energy cost of locomotion is certainly less on the moon than on earth, about 1/6. Were the subject not restrained by the space suit, progression by jumps at 20 km hr-1 on the moon would cost no more than 10 ml kg-1 min-1 of oxygen, the same as walking on earth at 6 km hr-1. Maximal acceleration of the body as in sprinting, or deceleration as in stopping, attains much higher values on earth than on the moon. While sprinting on earth may involve the maximal muscular power, sprinting or progressing at the highest speed on the moon involves only a fraction of the maximal power, mainly because of the reduced maximal frequency of the steps (or jumps). The maximal height of the jump on both feet on the moon could attain 4 m in the unrestricted subject. An analysis is wanted on the restriction of the movements brought about by the space suit and on the energy cost of progression.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed1990

Relationships of total protein, specific gravity, viscosity, refractive index and latex agglutination to immunoglobulin G concentration in mare colostrum.

A colostrum sample was collected within 24 h after foaling from 27 mares and from 10 other mares a milk sample was collected several weeks post partum. Immunoglobulin G concentrations were determined quantitatively by radial immunodiffusion and semi-quantitatively using a commercial latex agglutination test. Total protein, specific gravity, viscosity and refractive index were determined and their relationships to the immunoglobulin G concentration analysed. All parameters correlated with the immunoglobulin G concentration. The latex agglutination test divided the colostrum samples into three groups with different means for immunoglobulin G and total protein concentrations. Specific gravity and the latex agglutination test were found to be the methods best suited for on-farm evaluation of colostrum quality.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

A liquid-delivery device that provides precise reward control for neurophysiological and behavioral experiments.

Behavioral neurophysiology and other kinds of behavioral research often involve the delivery of liquid rewards to experimental subjects performing some kind of operant task. Available systems use gravity or pumps to deliver these fluids, but such methods are poorly suited to moment-to-moment control of the volume, timing, and type of fluid delivered. The design described here overcomes these limitations using an electronic control unit, a pressurized reservoir unit, and an electronically controlled solenoid. The control unit monitors reservoir pressure and provides precisely timed solenoid activation signals. It also stores calibration tables and does on-the-fly interpolation to support computer-controlled delivery calibrated directly in milliliters. The reservoir provides pressurized liquid to a solenoid mounted near the subject. Multiple solenoids, each supplied by a separate reservoir unit and control unit, can be stacked in close proximity to allow instantaneous selection of which liquid reward is delivered. The precision of droplet delivery was verified by weighing discharged droplets on a commercial analytical balance.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Relative equilibria for general gravity fields in the sphere-restricted full two-body problem.

Equilibrium conditions for a mutually attracting general mass distribution and point mass are stated. The equilibrium conditions can be reduced to six equations in six unknowns, plus the existence of integrals of motion consisting of the total angular momentum and energy of the system. The equilibrium conditions are further reduced to two independent equations, and their theoretical properties are studied. We state a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for an equilibrium that is well suited to the computation of certain classes of equilibria. These equations are solved for nonsymmetric gravity fields of interest, using a real asteroid shape model for the general gravity fields. The stability of the resulting equilibria are also noted.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1990

The effects of microgravity on the skeletal system--a review.

Exposure of astronauts to microgravity leads to the loss of calcium from weightbearing bones. Prolonged exposure, e.g., during a journey to Mars, may present problems on return to Earth, with increased risk of fractures and premature osteoporosis in later life. The precise mechanisms of calcium loss have yet to be determined although a key feature is the absence of mechanical loading. Countermeasures aimed at reducing calcium loss to acceptable levels include the use of exercise, drugs, dietary modifications and inertia suits such as the Soviet "Penguin" suit. Missions of a number of years may, however, require the development of artificial gravity on a spacecraft. The country that first solves the physiological problems of man in space and, in particular, skeletal calcium loss, will almost certainly be the first to be able to put a man on Mars.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2002

The effect of hypergravity on carcinogenesis in mice.

In recent years, investigators began studying the effect of hypergravity on pathological developments in the animal and human body. It was shown that a regular exposure of tail suspended rats to normal gravity diminished osteopenia and muscle atrophy. Moderate gravitational loading produced by a G-suit dramatically increased the therapeutic success rate in children with cerebral palsy. Rotation of patients with obliterating endarteritis and limb bone fractures in a short-radius centrifuge in hospitals of the city of Samara (Russia) yielded promising results. The purpose of our investigations was to investigate the effects of hypergravity on chemically induced carcinogenesis in mice. We hypothesized that gravitational loading may produce a generalized effect on the animal body and thus to enhance its nonspecific anti-tumor resistance.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Bolus aggregation in the oropharynx does not depend on gravity.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether bolus aggregation in the oropharynx (before swallowing) depends on gravity. DESIGN: Before-during trial, with subjects serving as their own controls. SETTING: Hospital radiology suite. PARTICIPANTS: Five asymptomatic adult volunteers. INTERVENTIONS: Videofluorography was performed while subjects ate soft and hard foods containing barium, first seated upright and then kneeling face down (quadruped position). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of food processing in the oral cavity, bolus aggregation in the valleculae, and pharyngeal swallow. RESULTS: Transport of chewed solid food from the oral cavity to the oropharynx (stage II transport) typically started several seconds before onset of swallow, regardless of head position or initial food consistency. Bolus aggregation in the valleculae (between the epiglottis and the tongue) began an average of 1.7 +/- 2.5sec before the onset of the pharyngeal swallow (p < .001). Stage II transport was driven by tongue-palate contact. CONCLUSIONS: Transport of chewed solid food from the oral cavity to the pharynx is driven actively by tongue-palate contact and does not depend on gravity. A bolus may accumulate in the valleculae for several seconds before the swallow.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

CECILIA, a versatile research tool for cellular responses to gravity.

We describe a centrifuge designed and constructed according to current demands for a versatile instrument in cellular gravitational research, in particular protists (ciliates, flagellates). The instrument (called CECILIA, centrifuge for ciliates) is suited for videomonitoring, videorecording, and quantitative evaluation of data from large numbers of swimming cells in a ground-based laboratory or in a drop tower/drop shaft under microgravity conditions. The horizontal rotating platform holds up to six 8mm-camcorders and six chambers holding the experimental cells. Under hypergravity conditions (up to 15 g) chambers can be rotated about 2 axes to adjust the swimming space at right angles or parallel to the resulting gravity vector. Evaluations of cellular responses to central acceleration-- in the presence of gravitational 1 g--are used for extrapolation of cellular behaviour under hypogravity conditions. CECILIA is operated and monitored by computer using a custom-made software. Times and slopes of rising and decreasing acceleration, values and and quality of steady acceleration are supervised online. CECILIA can serve as an on-ground research instrument for precursor investigations of the behaviour of ciliates and flagellates under microgravity conditions such as long-term experiments in the International Space Station.

Acceleration↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gravity, blood circulation, and the adaptation of form and function in lower vertebrates.

Gravitational force influences musculoskeletal systems, fluid distribution, and hydrodynamics of the circulation, especially in larger terrestrial vertebrates. The disturbance to hydrodynamics and distribution of body fluids relates largely to the effects of hydrostatic pressure gradients acting in vertical blood columns. These, in turn, are linked to the evolution of adaptive countermeasures involving modifications of structure and function. Comparative studies of snakes suggest there are four generalizations concerning adaptive countermeasures to gravity stress that seem relevant to lower vertebrates generally. First, increasing levels of regulated arterial blood pressure are expected to evolve with some relation to gravitational stresses incurred by the effects of height and posture on vertical blood columns above the heart. Second, aspects of gross anatomical organization are expected to evolve in relation to gravitational influence incurred by habitat and behavior. Third, natural selection coupled to gravitational stresses has favored morphological features that reduce the compliance of perivascular tissues and provide an anatomical "antigravity suit." Fourth, natural selection has produced gradients or regional differences of vascular characteristics in tall or elongated vertebrates that are active in high gravity stress environments. Consideration or awareness of these principles should be incorporated into interpretations of structure and function in lower vertebrates.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1992

Mechanical constraints on Nordic ski performance.

Skiers, coaches, and sports scientists must work within mechanical constraints to improve performance. If Nordic skiing is to be improved by mechanical means, it will be achieved by affecting one or more of the major constraints: gravity, mass, friction, aerodynamic or hydrodynamic lift and drag, and centripetal force. For example, the skier who assumes a tucked position, drafts a competitor, and wears a drag-reducing hood and body suit is reducing aerodynamic constraints. Sliding friction may also be reduced by using specially prepared skis and by selecting skis appropriate for the snow characteristics of the race course. Skin friction hydrodynamic drag may also be affected by ski selection and by special base preparations. Gravity and mass constraints are diminished by using lightweight components, by carrying them in the least costly way, and by minimizing swing weight. The toppling effect of centripetal forces is addressed by leaning into turns. All of these examples address mechanical constraints in a way that reduces physical power requirements, and thus decrease the metabolic power required to ski at a given speed, as well as increasing the maximal speed attainable.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed1999

[Mechanisms of early changes in water-electrolyte metabolism in man in various ground-based models of the effects of microgravity].

Analysed was an array of data amassed in 4 series of experiments with simulated microgravity effects (HDT (-6 degrees); dry and suited immersions in horizontal and vertical position). Water-electrolyte turnover in blood and urine and hormonal controls have been under study. It was demonstrated that irrespective of the body axis position relative to the gravity vector in the immersion models, reactions of the active regulation of the water--electrolyte metabolism were noted already within the initial hours, i.e. more rapidly than in HDT. During the early phase of adaptation to the immersion models, some ostensibly similar responses were governed by different hormonal controls. Unlike the dry immersion, the suited immersion tests with various body positioning modified not only the strength but the dynamics of the water-electrolyte regulation, too. Findings also included differences in the dynamics osmo- and volumoregulation in the vertical and horizontal suited immersion tests which are, possibly, reflective of recruitment of different stimulating mechanisms and efficiency of organs-targets.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed1994

A direct approach to the study of the effect of gravity on axis formation in birds.

A system has been developed to enable the normal development of aborted very early uterine avian embryos, outside the female's uterus. The shell-less aborted egg was put into a foster shell of a sister egg, previously laid by the same female. The empty space between the shell and aborted egg was filled with artificial uterine fluid. The reconstructed eggs were incubated at 42 degrees C for 30 hours in a vertical position. The atmosphere contained a high concentration of CO2 (8-10%). At the termination of the 30 h the eggs were transferred to incubation at 37 degrees C in normal atmospheric conditions. Normal development has been recorded for a certain percentage of eggs incubated up to 12 days. In other cases abnormalities, arrested development or development of extraembryonic membranes only, without a sign of an embryonic axis, have been observed. The three important conclusions from the above experiments were: 1. It is possible to develop a closed, self-contained system, disconnected from the female's body, that would support the development of early uterine embryos. 2. The incidence of embryo-less extraembryonic membranes in such a system, is correlated with the degree of detachment of the "yolk" from the outer envelopes. 3. Such a system can be further developed into an experiment suited for microgravity conditions which will be an alternative to an experiment with live birds. The experiment will be aimed at testing the importance of gravity in changing the radially symmetrical avian blastoderm into a bilaterally symmetrical blastoderm.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Life in extreme environments: how will humans perform on Mars?

This review of astronaut extravehicular activity (EVA) and the details of American and Soviet/Russian spacesuit design focuses on design recommendations to enhance astronaut safety and effectiveness. Innovative spacesuit design is essential, given the challenges of future exploration-class missions in which astronauts will be called upon to perform increasingly complex and physically demanding tasks in the extreme environments of microgravity and partial gravity.

Extravehicular Activity↗

PubMed2004

Physical demands and injuries to the upper extremity associated with the space program.

Hand and upper-extremity overuse and repetitive injuries in astronauts have been and continue to be a common problem in the space program. The demands on upper-extremity use in the astronaut training program, the zero-gravity environment, the extreme temperature conditions of space, the effects of space travel on human physiology/anatomy, and the constraints and pressures of space suits and gloves all can negatively impact upper-extremity function in ways that can result in overuse/repetitive injuries. Future plans for space exploration include endeavors that will continue and even increase the demands on the hand and upper extremity.

Astronauts↗

PubMed2006

Continuum approach to wide shear zones in quasistatic granular matter.

Slow and dense granular flows often exhibit narrow shear bands, making them ill suited for a continuum description. However, smooth granular flows have been shown to occur in specific geometries such as linear shear in the absence of gravity, slow inclined plane flows and, recently, flows in split-bottom Couette geometries. The wide shear regions in these systems should be amenable to a continuum description, and the theoretical challenge lies in finding constitutive relations between the internal stresses and the flow field. We propose a set of testable constitutive assumptions, including rate independence, and investigate the additional restrictions on the constitutive relations imposed by the flow geometries. The wide shear layers in the highly symmetric linear shear and inclined plane flows are consistent with the simple constitutive assumption that, in analogy with solid friction, the effective-friction coefficient (ratio between shear and normal stresses) is a constant. However, this standard picture of granular flows is shown to be inconsistent with flows in the less symmetric split-bottom geometry--here the effective friction coefficient must vary throughout the shear zone, or else the shear zone localizes. We suggest that a subtle dependence of the effective-friction coefficient on the orientation of the sliding layers with respect to the bulk force is crucial for the understanding of slow granular flows.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Adrenal overview.

Adrenalectomy is ideally suited to minimally invasive surgery. The adrenal glands can be approached endoscopically using either transperitoneal or retroperitoneal access. The transabdominal lateral approach is more direct, allows the gravity-facilitated exposure of the adrenals and results in less dissection than does the anterior approach. The transabdominal lateral approach is currently the most widely practiced approach since it provides a wide operative field and direct access to the blood vessels.

Adrenal Glands↗

PubMed2001

Field assessment of nanoscale bimetallic particles for groundwater treatment.

A field demonstration was performed in which nanoscale bimetallic (Fe/Pd) particles were gravity-fed into groundwater contaminated bytrichloroethene and other chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons at a manufacturing site. With diameters on the order of 100-200 nm, the nanoparticles are uniquely suited to rapidly degrade redox-amenable contaminants and for optimal subsurface delivery and dispersion. Approximately 1.7 kg of the nanoparticles was fed into the test area over a 2-day period, resulting in minimal clogging of the injection well. The test area was located within a well-characterized region of the contaminant plume and included an injection well and three piezometer couplets spaced 1.5 m apart. Despite the low nanoparticle dosage, trichloroethene reduction efficiencies of up to 96% were observed over a 4-week monitoring period with the highest values observed at the injection well and adjacent piezometers. Data from the field assessment were consistent with the results of pre-injection laboratory studies, which showed rapid dechlorination of target chlorinated compounds accompanied by a sharp decrease of standard oxidation potential and an increase in pH.

Biotransformation↗

PubMed1975

[The problem of crossed eye-hand dominance (author's transl)].

The manual and visual dominance of one side has in recent times attracted much attention from many aspects. Crossed dominance (right eye - left hand) seems significant in strabismus of childhood. For the first time recently it has become obvious, that the structure of the body and its muscles, especially of the trunk is asymmetrical. Even in normal persons the centre of gravity of the body is not in the midline, but displaced usually some distance to the left. We have examined the stabilographic proportions in 30 normal and 30 squinting children. In the normal children, with closed eyes the centre of gravity of the body was displaced in 80% to the right, in the quinting children this point was in 73% displaced to the left. We can deduce from this, that the marked right-eye dominance in squinting children is responsible for the displacement of the centre of gravity. If the right eye is open, then the vertical body-axis tends a little to the left. This tendency demands an increase of muscle tone on the left side of the body and with this a displacement of the body centre of gravity to the left; this not only, when the right eye is open, but also, when both eyes are opened or closed. From our experience this adjustment is especially suited to normalise the working together of the hand and the eye in squinting children.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗