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At least 1,171 records · Page 65Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Measurement of the directional distribution of incident particles in the Shuttle-Mir mission orbit.

The measurement of the directional distribution of incident particles was made by using the Real time Radiation Monitoring Device (RRMD)-III placed inside the Space Shuttle STS-84 cruised at an altitude of 400 km and an inclination angle of 51.6 degrees, which are the same as the cruising orbit of the International Space Station (ISS). The directional distributions of incident particles were evaluated over the observed linear energy transfer (LET) range (1-100 keV/micrometers). The pitch angle distribution is also obtained using the geomagnetic model of IGRF-95. The result is roughly in good agreement with the distribution obtained by the VF1-MIN anisotropy model calculation within the present experimental errors, if the shielding distribution is assumed to be uniform.

Anisotropy↗
PubMed1984

Ultrastructural findings in the brain of fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and mice exposed to high-energy particle radiation.

Effects of high energy, heavy particle (HZE) radiation were studied in the brain of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) exposed to argon (40Ar) or krypton (84Kr) ions. In the flies exposed to argon the fluence ranged from 6 X 10(4) to 8 X 10(7) particles/cm2. The insects were killed 35 days after exposure. Extensive tissue fragmentation was observed at the higher fluence employed. At fluences ranging from 5 X 10(6) (one hit/two cell bodies) to 9 X 10(4) (one hit/90 cell bodies) particles/cm2, swelling of the neuronal cytoplasm and focally fragmented membranes was observed. Marked increase of glial lamellae around nerve cell processes was seen at fluences ranging from one hit/six to one hit/135 cell bodies. In the flies irradiated with krypton, the fluences employed were 5.8 X 10(3) and 2.2 X 10(6) particles/cm2. Acute and late effects were evaluated. In the flies killed 36 hours after exposure (acute effects) to either fluence, glycogen particles were found in the neuroglial compartment. The granules were no longer present in flies killed 35 days later (late effects). As in the flies exposed to argon, neuronal swelling and membrane disruption were observed 35 days after exposure to both fluences. From these studies it appears that the Drosophila brain is a useful model to investigate radiation damage to mature neurons, neuroglia, and therefore, to the glio-neuronal metabolic unit. In a separate study, the synaptic profiles of the neuropil in layers II-III of the frontal cerebral cortex of anesthesized adult LAFl mice were quantitatively appraised after exposure to argon (40Ar) particles. The absorbed dose ranged from 0.05 to 5 gray (Gy) plateau. It was determined that the sodium pentobarbital anesthesia per se results in a significant decrease in synaptic profile length one day after anesthetization, with return to normal values after 2-28 days. Irradiation with 0.05-5 Gy argon particles significantly inhibited the synaptic shortening effect of anesthesia at one day after exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed1972

Summary of latent effects in long term survivors of whole body irradiations in primates.

The USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Radiobiology Division, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas presently is maintaining a colony of over 450 primates in which the whole body has been exposed to various types of space radiation including protons and electrons. The majority of the primates (Macaca mulatta) were exposed during 1965. Types of radiation involved are 2 MeV X-rays, 5 MeV-2.3 GeV protons and 1.6 MeV electrons. Low energy proton dose range up to 3000 rad (50-100 rad min-1) whereas the penetrating energy doses range up to 700 rad (15-100 rad min-1). Primates from a simulated solar flare exposure are also included. In late 1970, a small group of primates exposed to 108 and 85 MeV alpha particles (eye and partial body only) were added to the colony. Data are available in the following areas: (i) chronic skin changes; (ii) testicular atrophy; (iii) cataractogenesis; (iv) hematological and serum biochemical analysis; (v) incidence of tumors; (vi) causes of death; (vii) body weight variations; and (viii) summary of alpha particle experiences.

Alpha Particles↗
PubMed1983

Synaptic plasticity in the cerebral cortex of mice: effects of radiation and anesthesia.

In the neuropil of layers II and III of the frontal cortex of adult mice, as seen in the electron microscope, sodium pentobarbital anesthesia alone results in a significant decrease in synaptic profile length at 1 day after anesthetization, followed by a return to normal or above normal levels after 2-28 days, while the number of synaptic profiles per unit cross section (profile incidence) is not altered; irradiation with 5-500 rad plateau argon particles significantly inhibits the profile shortening effect of anesthesia at 1 day after exposure, but this inhibition is not dose related; an inverse dose relationship in profile incidence appears at 2 days following irradiation with argon particles; at 1 to 2 hours after 150 or 220 rad x-irradiation, profile incidence is significantly reduced while the length is increased, effects that appear to be dose related and unaffected by adrenalectomy.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Advances in space radiation shielding codes.

Early space radiation shield code development relied on Monte Carlo methods and made important contributions to the space program. Monte Carlo methods have resorted to restricted one-dimensional problems leading to imperfect representation of appropriate boundary conditions. Even so, intensive computational requirements resulted and shield evaluation was made near the end of the design process. Resolving shielding issues usually had a negative impact on the design. Improved spacecraft shield design requires early entry of radiation constraints into the design process to maximize performance and minimize costs. As a result, we have been investigating high-speed computational procedures to allow shield analysis from the preliminary concept to the final design. For the last few decades, we have pursued deterministic solutions of the Boltzmann equation allowing field mapping within the International Space Station (ISS) in tens of minutes using standard Finite Element Method (FEM) geometry common to engineering design methods. A single ray trace in such geometry requires 14 milliseconds and limits application of Monte Carlo methods to such engineering models. A potential means of improving the Monte Carlo efficiency in coupling to spacecraft geometry is given.

Cosmic Radiation↗
PubMed1963

Perspectives for the development of exobiology.

In the majority of the papers dealing with the status and prospects of the development of exobiology a theoretical analysis predominates. More attention should be given to the discussion of methods and experiments carried out at the present time or planned for the near future. In investigating life in the cosmos, we attach considerable interest to detection of compounds specific to living beings, in particular, organic compounds of phosphorus, porphyrins, amino nitrogen and others. In searching for microorganisms on other planets and in interplanetary space the greatest danger is that, as a result of errors in technique, the investigator will detect earthly microorganisms which have invaded and reproduced in the nutrient mediums used. Information on the vitality of microbes detected in the ground taken in the zone of eternal frigidity, in big pieces of rock salt, in meteorites, etc. confirms these apprehensions. Initially, search for heterotrophic bacteria should be carried out, then for phototrophic, denitrifying, sulfate-reducing, nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, as well as bacteria oxydizing sulfur, iron, methane and hydrogen. Instruments for detection of cosmobionts can be based on nephelometry, potentiometry, manometry and on the use of carbon labelled compounds and added to the nutrient medium. Investigations elucidating the influence of low and high temperatures, vacuum, and radiation on living cells are possible to carry out on earth and therefore are most accessible to exobiology. They give interesting results and in some degree make it possible to approach the study of the conditions to which life would be exposed in space. The sterilization of space ships is of paramount importance for further exobiological investigations. Under space conditions microbes will not completely perish on the space ship surface and, therefore, careful sterilization is necessary. The assertion that earth microbes, having reached the lunar surface, will not be able to develop is not free of objections. To carry out sterilization so that space ships will not contain dead bodies of microbes is impossible. Therefore, the wish expressed sometimes that "carcasses" of microbes should not be conveyed onto other planets is practically unrealizable.

Containment of Biohazards↗
PubMed2002

Dosimetry and microdosimetry characteristics measured on board the MIR station during the 28th basic expedition.

Three types of detectors were used onboard the MIR station during the 28th base expeditions to characterise the radiation field: a linear energy transfer (LET) spectrometer was used to establish the LET spectrum between 7 and 700 keV/micrometers corresponding mostly to secondary charged particles; a set of thermoluminescent detectors was used to characterise the low LET component of the onboard radiation field; and Si-diodes were installed to determine the contribution to the exposure due to fast neutrons. It was found out that the LET spectrum from secondary particles between 7 and 700 KeV/micrometers does not depend on the external radiator; the average quality factors for the region mentioned are about 6.0 with ICRP 26 quality factors and about 6.8 with ICRP 60 quality factors. Both differential and integral LET spectra are presented for some typical cases, not only for particle number but also for the dose characteristics like dose and dose equivalent. The spectra obtained also permitted us to calculate the total doses and dose equivalents due to secondary particles with the LET values between 7 and 700 keV/micrometers. It was found out that these quantities are higher for the case of detectors placed in the less shielded area, both for the LET spectrometer (high LET part) as well as for TLDs measuring the low LET component. Total dosimetric characteristics obtained as a sum of both components mentioned are a little lower than previously reported.

Cosmic Radiation↗
PubMed2005

Induction of anchorage-independent growth in primary human cells exposed to protons or HZE ions separately or in dual exposures.

Travelers on space missions will be exposed to a complex radiation environment that includes protons and heavy charged particles. Since protons are present at much higher levels than are heavy ions, the most likely scenario for cellular radiation exposure will be proton exposure followed by a hit by a heavy ion. Although the effects of individual ion species on human cells are being investigated extensively, little is known about the effects of exposure to both radiation types. One useful measure of mammalian cell damage is induction of the ability to grow in a semi-solid agar medium highly inhibitory to the growth of normal human cells, termed neoplastic transformation. Using primary human cells, we evaluated induction of soft-agar growth and survival of cells exposed to protons only or to heavy charged particles (600 MeV/nucleon silicon) only as well as of cells exposed to protons followed after a 4-day interval by silicon ions. Both ions alone efficiently transformed the human cells to anchorage-independent growth. Initial experiments indicate that the dose responses for neoplastic transformation of cells exposed to protons and then after 4 days to silicon ions appear similar to that of cells exposed to silicon ions alone.

Cell Proliferation↗
PubMed2000

Potential doses to passengers and crew of supersonic transports.

Data from a tissue equivalent proportional counter that was flown at altitudes ranging from 60,000 feet to 70,000 feet were used to estimate radiation quality factors at different latitudes. For high LET radiation, Q values of 11 to 14 were calculated for latitude 18 degrees north to 59 degrees north. Dose equivalent rates ranging from 5.2 microSv hr(-1) to 27 microSv hr(-1) were measured. These dose equivalent rates are about twice that computed using a computer code called CARI-4Q. The dose equivalent received during a flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo was computed using CARI-4Q and the result doubled, based on the TEPC to CARI-4Q ratio. Members of the general public, including frequent flyers, would not exceed dose limits recommended by the ICRP. Air crew would not exceed the limits for occupationally exposed persons. However, pregnant air crew, based on a 2 mSv limit to concepti, would exceed the limit after 150 hours flying time.

Aircraft↗
PubMed1968

The survival of terrestrial microorganisms in space at orbital altitudes during Gemini satellite experiments.

In a previous series of rocket- and satellite-borne experiments, microorganisms were exposed to space between altitudes of 60 to 460 km for periods between 3 minutes and 4 months. The results showed that some of the unprotected microorganisms survived the direct exposure for up to 17 hours. Complete survival was found when the microorganisms were shielded from nonpenetrating radiation. These results made it desirable to systematically study the lethal influence of the space environment on a wider spectrum of unprotected microorganisms over various exposure periods. This communication presents the results of exposure experiments on board the Gemini XII satellite. The microorganisms were dried on plastic coated aluminum plates using techniques which will be described elsewhere. During the flight of the Gemini XII space capsule, the microorganisms were directly exposed to space for approximately 6 1/2 hours. After the successful completion of the Gemini XII mission the payload was returned to the laboratory for elution and titration of the microorganisms using techniques described elsewhere. The results showed that again survival of some microorganisms had occurred. An attempt is made to integrate these results with data obtained in previously published experiments.

Altitude↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of the pre-flight and post-flight calibration procedures performed on the Liulin space radiation dosimeter.

Liulin, a dosimetry-radiometry system, was developed to satisfy the requirements for active flux and dose rate measurements for the flight of the second Bulgarian cosmonaut in 1988. The system consists of a compact battery-operated silicon solid state detector unit and a read/write microcomputer and telemetry unit. We describe the pre-flight calibrations with charged particles, using radioactive sources and accelerated 170 MeV/nucleon proton and alpha particles at the Dubna, Russia cyclotron. We discuss comparisons with data obtained on Mir with the French-built tissue equivalent LET spectrometer NAUSICAA. Lastly, we describe post-flight calibrations performed with 1 GeV/nucleon 56Fe ions at the Brookhaven National Laboratory AGS accelerator, where the instrument was mounted in tandem with several thin position-sensitive silicon detectors behind a stopping target. The silicon detectors provided an energy spectrum for the surviving charged nuclear fragments for which the flux and absorbed dose were recorded by Liulin.

Alpha Particles↗
PubMed1999

An analysis of energy deposition in a tissue equivalent proportional counter onboard the space shuttle.

An improved prediction for space radiations in the lower earth orbits measured by the shuttle TEPC is obtained when energy loss straggling and chord length distribution of the detector are considered. A generalized analytic model is used to describe the energy deposition of direct ion interaction events in a micron-size detector. The transport calculation accounting for the shuttle configuration is accomplished by using a new version of HZETRN that has been extensively verified with laboratory and flight data. The agreement of predicted and measured lineal energy spectra is within 70% for the region above 2 keV/micrometer but within a factor of 2.3 underpredicted for the region below this value. The inclusion of indirect delta ray events in the model is needed before possible causes for the underprediction below 2 keV/micrometer can be assessed.

Cosmic Radiation↗
PubMed1997

Solar modulation of dose rate onboard the Mir station.

Models of the radiation belts that are currently used to estimate exposure for astronauts describe the environment at times of either solar minimum or solar maximum. Static models, constructed using data acquired prior to 1970 during a solar cycle with relatively low solar radio flux, have flux uncertainties of a factor of two to live and dose-rate uncertainties of a factor of about two. The inability of these static models to provide a dynamic description of the radiation belt environment limits our ability to predict radiation exposures for long-duration missions in low earth orbits. In an attempt to add some predictive capability of these models, we studied the measured daily absorbed dose rate on the Mir orbital station over roughly the complete 22nd solar cycle that saw some of the highest solar flux values in the last 40 y. We show that the daily trapped particle dose rate is an approximate power law function of daily atmospheric density. Atmospheric density values are in turn obtained from standard correlation with observed solar radio noise flux. This correlation improves, particularly during periods of high solar activity, if the density at roughly 400 days earlier time is used. This study suggests the possibility of a dose- and flux-predictive trapped-belt model based on atmospheric density.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed2001

Mechanistic bases for modelling space radiation risk and planning radiation protection of astronauts.

The approaches generally adopted for planning radiation protection in ground-based facilities cannot be applied straightforward for astronaut protection in space. Indeed in such extreme conditions, modelling methods and shielding design must be based on a detailed mechanistic knowledge of the peculiar astronauts irradiation conditions. Great help can derive from mechanistic modelling, generally aimed to better understand the intermediate steps leading from the initial energy depositions to different biological endpoints, up to organ and organism level. In the present work, criteria will be illustrated for using mechanistic approaches in developing practical tools for astronauts radioprotection, once the external field and the interaction cross sections with the spacecraft walls are known; particular attention will be given to the treatment of mixed fields. Techniques for integrating into condensed-history codes stochastic information provided by event-by-event simulations will be presented.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1985

A portable dose equivalent meter based on microdosimetry.

It is generally accepted that the physical basis of the relative biological effectiveness of different radiations is the difference in the spatial distribution of ionization along the charged particle tracks. Thus it is possible to measure physical quantities which may be related to biological damage, and use them to estimate the radiation protection quantity "dose equivalent". A prototype instrument utilizing a spherical proportional counter and microcomputer to make such measurements has been developed and tested. The detector is filled with gas at low pressure in order to simulate micrometer diameter volumes of tissue. Energy deposition in these small volumes is a stochastic quantity which depends on charged particle stopping power, path length through the site, energy loss straggling, and energy transport by secondary charged particles (delta rays). It has been suggested that this energy deposition distribution be used as a basis for defining radiation quality factor (mean Q). However, to the extent that the energy deposition in the site is proportional to the geometric chord length distribution, energy deposition can also be used to determine the linear energy transfer. The mean quality factor can then be calculated on the basis of the current definition. The prototype instrument uses two amplifiers, with gains of 50 and 1000, processing the pulses from a single detector in order to resolve the wide range of energy deposition events produced by neutron and gamma irradiation. Each amplifier is connected to a specially designed analog to digital converter and a 128 channel multichannel analyzer. A microcomputer controls the system and calculates dose and dose equivalent. Test results for a variety of accelerator produced neutron irradiations show that, from 0.1 to 15 MeV, system accuracy is +/- 0.5 for mean Q and +/- 15% for dose equivalent.

Cosmic Radiation↗
PubMed1992

"Mir" radiation dosimetry results during the solar proton events in September-October 1989.

Using data from dosimetry-radiometry system "Liulin" on board of "Mir"-space station the particle flux and doserate during September-October, 1989 has been studied. The orbit of the station was 379 km perigee, 410 km apogee and 51.6 degrees inclination. Special attention has been paid to the flux and doserate changes inside the station after intensive solar proton events (SPE) on 29 of September, 1989. The comparison between the doses before and after the solar flares shows increase of the calculated mean dose per day by factor of 10 to 200. During the SPE on the 29 of September the additional dose was 310 mrad. The results of the experiment are compared with the data for the solar proton fluxes obtained on the GOES-7 satellite.

Bulgaria↗
PubMed2005

Radiation doses potentially received on-board aeroplanes during recent solar particle events.

Because the doses received on-board aeroplanes are now monitored to fulfil legal requirements in some countries, including the European Community, the models to calculate doses received during solar events have left their purely academic status to become a part of operational systems as well. The present work considers parameters of importance to determine the doses received during solar events: spectral characteristics of the solar particles and anisotropy of primary particles and their variations in the course of the Ground Level Enhancement (GLE). Precise determination of both, using all the information available from the worldwide neutron monitor network, being a long process, simpler methods are proposed to calculate rigidity spectrum exponent and to correct the models for anisotropy. A recent GLE of large intensity, having occurred on 20 January 2005, is used both as an example of an important event and because the necessary data were collected within a few days, showing that the above methods, in addition to their own interest, have also an operational potential.

Aircraft↗
PubMed2006

Alterations in gene expression in rat skin exposed to 56Fe ions and dietary vitamin A acetate.

The purpose of the present work was to examine gene expression patterns in rat skin exposed to a beam of (56)Fe ions, a surrogate for the high-energy, heavy-ion galactic radiation background, as a basis for obtaining a better understanding of the possible mechanism(s) behind the radioprotective activity of vitamin A. A 2 x 4-cm rectangle of dorsal rat skin was exposed to 1.01 GeV/nucleon (56)Fe ions generated by the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Gene expression patterns were monitored in either the presence or absence of a 250-ppm dietary supplement of vitamin A acetate in powdered lab chow. Although vitamin A and other retinoids show anti-carcinogenic activity in several animal models, the underlying changes in gene expression have not been examined extensively. At either 1 or 7 day after irradiation, a 1-cm square of irradiated and control rat skin was excised and analyzed using the Affymetrix rat microarray (RG_U34A) system. Microarray responses were displayed and processed by GeneSpring 7.0 and GOTree software. At 1 day after 3 Gy of (56)Fe-ion irradiation, the expression of 110 genes was significantly up-regulated (P < = 0.05) in comparison to levels in control rat skin, while no genes were altered by the vitamin A acetate supplement alone. Combined with (56)Fe-ion radiation, the vitamin A acetate supplement blocked the expression of 88 (80%) of the 110 genes and eliminated 16 of 18 gene categories that were significantly altered (all increased) by the (56)Fe-ion radiation. Categories with large numbers of genes eliminated by the retinoid included response to stress, 33 genes; response to biotic stimulus, 38 genes; signal transduction, 35 genes; and regulation of cellular/physiological process, 40 genes. Even for immune response and response to biotic stimulus, the only two categories that remained significantly altered in the presence of the vitamin, the combined number of altered genes was reduced from 74 to 13. No significant alterations in gene expression were found at 7 days relative to the numbers in controls. The results indicate that at 1 day dietary vitamin A acetate strongly interfered with (56)Fe-ion-induced gene expression within the broad categories of stimulus- and stress-related genes, implying that the latter gene categories likely play a role in the radioprotective action of the vitamin.

Administration, Oral↗