Protein Intake and Physical Performance Following Long-Term Stay on the International Space Station

2021 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 153-159
Author(s):  
Yuko Nozawa ◽  
Yukiko Wagatsuma
Keyword(s):  
Physical Performance ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Plantar Flexion ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Carbohydrate Intake ◽  
International Space ◽  
Exercise Effect ◽  
Ankle Plantar Flexion

INTRODUCTION: Exposure to microgravity reduces muscle mass, volume, and performance. The ingestion of protein, especially combined with carbohydrate intake and exercise after ingestion, improves net muscle protein synthesis and increases muscle mass. However, there are few studies on this relationship during and after a long-term spaceflight. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of protein and the combined effects of carbohydrate intake on muscle performance following long-term spaceflight.METHODS: This study is a retrospective cohort study involving secondary analysis of data stored in the NASA Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health Repository. Multivariable analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of protein intake on physical performance by considering covariates potentially associated with each model.RESULTS: After adjusting for sex, age, flight week, energy intake, and preflight physical performance, protein intake was found to be significantly associated with concentric measurements for knee extension ( 51.66), ankle plantar flexion ( 32.86), and eccentric measurements for ankle plantar flexion ( 79.85) at 5 d after landing. Significant associations remained after controlling for exercise effect. No significant interaction between protein and carbohydrate intake was observed in either model.DISCUSSION: Protein intake during spaceflight was related to physical performance for knee extension and ankle plantar flexion, even after taking exercise effect into consideration. However, protein and carbohydrate intake provided no synergetic benefit. This suggests that high protein intake, about twice the current average intake, may serve as a countermeasure to offset the negative effects of long-duration spaceflights.Nozawa Y, Wagatsuma Y. Protein intake and physical performance following long-term stay on the International Space Station. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(3):153159.

Physical Performance Issues for Humans in Space

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (23) ◽  
pp. 2028-2030
Author(s):  
James Maida
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Performance ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Low Earth Orbit ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Short Term ◽  
International Space ◽  
Space Suits ◽  
Performance Issues

NASA has built human habitations for a trip to the moon and for low earth orbit. These habitations include Skylab, Shuttle and the International Space Station. We also have experience with the Russian station, Mir. Shuttle and the Lunar experiences are considered somewhat short term in nature, under 20 days, and do not really test nor answer the physical performance issues of long term human physical activity in space. We have some experience in long term human physical activity from Skylab, MIR and Space Station, but much more is needed to understand physical demands of working in space. Even more is needed for the long term lunar and planetary experience. We need more information about habitats, space suits and exploring in these environments.

Thermoelectric Applications as Related to Biomedical Engineering for Nasa Johnson Space Center

1997 ◽  
Vol 478 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. D. Kramer ◽  
P.E.
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Space Environment ◽  
Space Applications ◽  
International Space ◽  
Future Technology ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
Environment Noise ◽  
Scientific Value

AbstractThis paper presents current NASA biomedical developments and applications using thermoelectrics. Discussion will include future technology enhancements that would be most beneficial to the application of thermoelectric technology.A great deal of thermoelectric applications have focused on electronic cooling. As with all technological developments within NASA, if the application cannot be related to the average consumer, the technology will not be mass-produced and widely available to the public (a key to research and development expenditures and thermoelectric companies). Included are discussions of thermoelectric applications to cool astronauts during launch and reentry. The earth-based applications, or spin-offs, include such innovations as tank and race car driver cooling, to cooling infants with high temperatures, as well as, the prevention of hair loss during chemotherapy. In order to preserve the scientific value of metabolic samples during long-term space missions, cooling is required to enable scientific studies. Results of one such study should provide a better understanding of osteoporosis and may lead to a possible cure for the disease.In the space environment, noise has to be kept to a minimum. In long-term space applications such as the International Space Station, thermoelectric technology provides the acoustic relief and the reliability for food, as well as, scientific refrigeration/freezers. Applications and future needs are discussed as NASA moves closer to a continued space presence in Mir, International Space Station, and Lunar-Mars Exploration.

scholarly journals Non-Toxin-Producing Bacillus cereus Strains Belonging to the B. anthracis Clade Isolated from the International Space Station

mSystems ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasthuri Venkateswaran ◽  
Nitin K. Singh ◽  
Aleksandra Checinska Sielaff ◽  
Robert K. Pope ◽  
Nicholas H. Bergman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Cereus ◽  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Food Poisoning ◽  
Community Analysis ◽  
Microbial Community Analysis ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
International Space ◽  
Microbial Population Dynamics

ABSTRACT The International Space Station Microbial Observatory (Microbial Tracking-1) study is generating a microbial census of the space station’s surfaces and atmosphere by using advanced molecular microbial community analysis techniques supported by traditional culture-based methods and modern bioinformatic computational modeling. This approach will lead to long-term, multigenerational studies of microbial population dynamics in a closed environment and address key questions, including whether microgravity influences the evolution and genetic modification of microorganisms. The spore-forming Bacillus cereus sensu lato group consists of pathogenic (B. anthracis), food poisoning (B. cereus), and biotechnologically useful (B. thuringiensis) microorganisms; their presence in a closed system such as the ISS might be a concern for the health of crew members. A detailed characterization of these potential pathogens would lead to the development of suitable countermeasures that are needed for long-term future missions and a better understanding of microorganisms associated with space missions. In an ongoing Microbial Observatory investigation of the International Space Station (ISS), 11 Bacillus strains (2 from the Kibo Japanese experimental module, 4 from the U.S. segment, and 5 from the Russian module) were isolated and their whole genomes were sequenced. A comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of these isolates showed the highest similarity (>99%) to the Bacillus anthracis-B. cereus-B. thuringiensis group. The fatty acid composition, polar lipid profile, peptidoglycan type, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight profiles were consistent with the B. cereus sensu lato group. The phenotypic traits such as motile rods, enterotoxin production, lack of capsule, and resistance to gamma phage/penicillin observed in ISS isolates were not characteristics of B. anthracis. Whole-genome sequence characterizations showed that ISS strains had the plcR non-B. anthracis ancestral “C” allele and lacked anthrax toxin-encoding plasmids pXO1 and pXO2, excluding their identification as B. anthracis. The genetic identities of all 11 ISS isolates characterized via gyrB analyses arbitrarily identified them as members of the B. cereus group, but traditional DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) showed that the ISS isolates are similar to B. anthracis (88% to 90%) but distant from the B. cereus (42%) and B. thuringiensis (48%) type strains. The DDH results were supported by average nucleotide identity (>98.5%) and digital DDH (>86%) analyses. However, the collective phenotypic traits and genomic evidence were the reasons to exclude the ISS isolates from B. anthracis. Nevertheless, multilocus sequence typing and whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphism analyses placed these isolates in a clade that is distinct from previously described members of the B. cereus sensu lato group but closely related to B. anthracis. IMPORTANCE The International Space Station Microbial Observatory (Microbial Tracking-1) study is generating a microbial census of the space station’s surfaces and atmosphere by using advanced molecular microbial community analysis techniques supported by traditional culture-based methods and modern bioinformatic computational modeling. This approach will lead to long-term, multigenerational studies of microbial population dynamics in a closed environment and address key questions, including whether microgravity influences the evolution and genetic modification of microorganisms. The spore-forming Bacillus cereus sensu lato group consists of pathogenic (B. anthracis), food poisoning (B. cereus), and biotechnologically useful (B. thuringiensis) microorganisms; their presence in a closed system such as the ISS might be a concern for the health of crew members. A detailed characterization of these potential pathogens would lead to the development of suitable countermeasures that are needed for long-term future missions and a better understanding of microorganisms associated with space missions.

scholarly journals Estimated Muscle Loads During Squat Exercise in Microgravity Conditions

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher D. Fregly ◽  
Brandon T. Kim ◽  
Zhao Li ◽  
John K. De Witt ◽  
Benjamin J. Fregly
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Flight ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Resistive Exercise ◽  
International Space ◽  
Free Weight ◽  
Squat Exercise ◽  
Term Space Flight ◽  
Microgravity Conditions

Loss of muscle mass in microgravity is one of the primary factors limiting long-term space flight [1]. NASA researchers have developed a number of exercise devices to address this problem. The most recent is the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) [2], which is currently used by astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) to emulate typical free-weight exercises in microgravity. ARED exercise on the ISS is intended to reproduce Earth-level muscle loads, but the actual muscle loads produced remain unknown as they cannot currently be measured directly.

Methods of studying sighting axis oscillations when observing the Earth’s surface from the Russian segment of the International Space Station

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.A. Evdokimov ◽  
V.Yu. Tugaenko ◽  
A.V. Smirnov
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Measurement Errors ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Guidance System ◽  
International Space ◽  
Scientific Equipment ◽  
Measurement Results ◽  
Angular Velocities ◽  
Long Term Trends

The study introduces a method for determining the characteristics of long-period oscillations of the International Space Station structure by analyzing the displacement of the sighting axis of scientific equipment relative to the calculated position when observing the Earth’s surface from the Russian segment. The technique makes it possible to identify long-term oscillations through noise caused by high-frequency oscillations and measurement errors, as well as long-term trends associated with a change in the orientation of the station. The work was carried out as part of the first stage of the Pelican space experi-ment to develop the technology of wireless energy transmission in space. After processing the measurement results performed in the experiment sessions, it was possible to determine the maximum values of the amplitudes and angular velocities of the displacement of the sighting axis in order to clarify the requirements for the guidance system of scientific equipment used in the subsequent stages of the experiment.

Microbial Observatory Research in the International Space Station and Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo”

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1025-1030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaki Shirakawa ◽  
◽  
Fumiaki Tanigaki ◽  
Takashi Yamazaki ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Space Station ◽  
Space Station ◽  
Space Mission ◽  
The Body ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Microgravity Environment ◽  
International Space ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Experiment Module

The International Space Station (ISS) is a completely closed environment that offers a long-term microgravity environment. It is a unique environment where microbes can fly and attach themselves to devices or humans, especially the exposed parts of the body and head. The ongoing monitoring and analysis of microbes and their movement inside the Japanese Experiment Module (named “Kibo”) of the ISS are intended to study the effects of microbes on humans and prevent health hazards caused by microbes during a long-term space mission. This paper describes the current status and future plan of Japanese microbiological experiments to monitor microbial dynamics in Kibo. It also describes the future prospective and prioritized microbiological research areas based on the “Kibo utilization scenario towards 2020 in the field of life science.” Given the microbial research in space being actively conducted by the USA, NASA and international activities are also reported.

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