Institute For Biomedical Problems Research Articles

Men for Mars

![Figure][1] Relaxation in isolation. CREDIT: SOURCE: IBMP If six men are crammed into a space capsule for 520 days, will they go crazy? Candidates are now competing to help answer that question. There's no crewed voyage to Mars in the offing, but the joint Russian-European Mars500 project is on track for a simulated year-and-a-half roundtrip to, and a 3-week field trip on, the Red Planet. Six men will enter a capsule this summer at the Russian Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP) in Moscow. Nine candidates are currently training in Russia. The final crew, to be announced in May, will comprise three Russians, two Europeans, and either a Chinese or another Russian. Astronauts who venture beyond the protection of Earth's magnetic field must dive behind protective shields periodically to avoid deadly blasts of radiation from solar flares. Otherwise, the daily routine is similar to life aboard a ship: 8 hours each of work, recreation, and sleep. Work includes medical tests, growing vegetables in the greenhouse, and mandatory exercise. Recreation includes the use of an onboard sauna. Unlike Russian cosmonauts, the crew won't be allowed cocktails. Six men have already successfully endured a 105-day version of the experiment last year. There was only one problem: European-style freeze-dried fare “did not match the Russian taste for food, which at the end led to some weight loss in some of the Russian crew members,” says project manager Jennifer Ngo-Anh. [1]: pending:yes

Exercise as a countermeasure to psycho-physiological deconditioning during long-term confinement

Confinement studies are performed to simulate the psychological effects that may be experienced on a long-term space flight. A general psycho-physiological model assumes that mood and cognitive functioning are impaired during confinement as a result of an absence of physical activity. The aim of the MARS500 study initiated by the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP) and the European Space Agency (ESA) is to gather data, knowledge and experience to help prepare for a real mission to Mars. A test run with 105 days of isolation was performed prior to 520 days of isolation. Psycho-physiological data of this study are presented here. We hypothesized that exercise, as it has been shown in laboratory settings, would be able to prevent and counteract mood changes during isolation. Electrocortical data (EEG) and a self report on current psychological and physical state were recorded several times prior to and after exercise during the isolation period. Data revealed a clear effect of exercise on mood and electrocortical activity. Moreover, it was shown that mood and brain cortical activity decreased during the first 11 weeks of isolation and reached baseline again in the last week of isolation. A correlation analysis revealed a significant relation between mood data and electrocortical activity. We conclude (1) that confinement is accompanied by psycho-physiological changes and (2) that exercise is a suitable method to counteract psycho-physiological deconditioning during confinement.

Human health assessment and management technologies: The scientific basis

The national Health project has set the healthcare system the task of intensifying disease prevention, reducing morbidity, and increasing the lifespan and active longevity of the national population. Population health is the aggregate of the health of individuals. Modern biomedical science considers the quantification of human health to be an extremely complicated and yet unsolved problem. Some researchers [2‐4] believe that there are no absolutely healthy people, because the human body always contains millions of cells with gene mutations awaiting favorable conditions for reproduction. Immunodeficiency, which is currently found in a considerable proportion of the human population, creates favorable conditions for mitosis of mutant cells. The bodies of modern humans have to adapt to an urbanized life style under the conditions of a high emotional stress, insufficient motor activity (hypokinesia), and environment deterioration [1, 4, 7, 9]. This adaptation leads to various noninfectious somatic diseases even in early ontogeny. Cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and endocrine diseases are characterized by a long latent period (10‐20 years) and are underlain by adaptive pathogenesis. Modern medicine actively uses various pharmaceutical drugs for treating these illnesses, which threatens us with impending formation of a generation of “ Homo pharmacologies ” [5]. The search for biologically sound means of protection against premature somatic diseases and augmentation of the functional reserves of the human immune system is an urgent scientific and practical task. A system of preventive control of somatic health and functional reserves of the human body has been developed in the Institute of Biomedical Problems in the framework of the program “Fundamental Sciences for Medicine” [7‐9]. This system is based on the notion that modern humans have to maintain certain optimal physiological and morphological states of the body to preserve physical well-being, protect themselves against injuries and diseases, and ensure a high working capacity until the age of retiring. The figure schematically shows the changes in the human biophysical potential in the course of ontogeny. The upper limit of this potential shown in the diagram reflects a high level of health and functional reserves of vital systems ensuring a lifespan of 75 years or longer. The vital activity of a human body with retarded and insufficient development of the functional reserves of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and neuromuscular system and inefficient neurohumoral regulation decreases considerably more rapidly, which results in a shortened life cycle.

Problems and possibilities of astronauts—Ground communication content analysis validity check

The analysis of space crew's communication with mission control (MC) is the standard operational procedure of the psychological support group in the Institute for Biomedical problems, Russia. For more than 20 years it is used for the monitoring of the behavioral health of Russian crewmembers in space. We apply quantitative speech content analysis to reveal relationship dynamics within the group and between the crew and MC. We suggest that the features of individual communicative style reflect psychological emotional status and individuality of communicator, his coping strategy, fixed by POMS. Moreover, the appearance of certain psychological complexities would become apparent both in POMS profile change and in communicative style change. As a result of the validity check we arrived to a new objective method of crews’ dynamic psychological monitoring. This method would not take any of astronauts’ time, would not need any on-board equipment, and at the same time it is based on real performance in space, i.e. astronauts communication with MC.

Cosmic ray detection on the ISS by a 3 axes track etch detector stack and the complementary calibration studies

The complex radiation field inside the International Space Station (ISS) as well as the dose received by its crew was studied for several years in the BRADOS ( 1 - 5 ) projects organized by the Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP, Moscow) with the participation of different laboratories. The results of the measurements performed during the BRADOS-5 project by a 3 axes solid state nuclear track detector (SSNTD) stack as LET spectra and dose values are presented. According to the results, no remarkable directional dependence could be observed in the radiation field. The averaged absorbed dose rate and dose equivalent rate values above ∼ 12 keV μ m - 1 were 27.0 ± 1.6 μ Gy d - 1 and 211.4 ± 14.4 μ Sv d - 1 , respectively, resulting in an averaged quality factor of 7.9 ± 0.1 .

TL dose measurements on board the Russian segment of the ISS by the “Pille” system during Expedition-8, -9 and -10

The “Pille-MKS” thermoluminescent (TL) dosimeter system developed by the KFKI Atomic Energy Research Institute (KFKI AEKI) and BL-Electronics, consisting of 10 CaSO 4 :Dy bulb dosimeters and a compact reader, has been continuously operating on board the International Space Station (ISS) since October 2003. The dosimeter system is utilized for routine and extravehicular activity (EVA) individual dosimetry of astronauts/cosmonauts as part of the service system as well as for on board experiments, and is operated by the Institute for Biomedical Problems (IBMP). The system is unique in that it regularly provides accurate dose data right on board the space station, a feature that became increasingly important during the suspension of the Space Shuttle flights. Seven dosimeters are located at different places of the Russian segment of the ISS and are read out once a month. Two of these dosimeters are dedicated to EVAs and one is kept in the reader and will be read out automatically every 90 min. During coronal mass ejections impacting Earth some of the dosimeters serve for individual monitoring of the astronauts with readouts once or twice every day. In this paper we report the results of dosimetric measurements made on board the ISS during Expedition-8, -9 and -10 using the “Pille” portable thermoluminescent detector (TLD) system and we compare them with our previous measurements on different space stations.

Austrian dose measurements onboard space station MIR and the International Space Station – overview and comparison

The Atominstitute of the Austrian Universities has conducted various space research missions in the last 12 years in cooperation with the Institute for Biomedical Problems in Moscow. They dealt with the exact determination of the radiation hazards for cosmonauts and the development of precise measurement devices. Special emphasis will be laid on the last experiment on space station MIR the goal of which was the determination of the depth distribution of absorbed dose and dose equivalent in a water filled Phantom. The first results from dose measurements onboard the International Space Station (ISS) will also be discussed. The spherical Phantom with a diameter of 35 cm was developed at the Institute for Biomedical Problems and had 4 channels where dosemeters can be exposed in different depths. The exposure period covered the timeframe from May 1997 to February 1999. Thermoluminescent dosemeters (TLDs) were exposed inside the Phantom, either parallel or perpendicular to the hull of the spacecraft. For the evaluation of the linear energy transfer (LET), the high temperature ratio (HTR) method was applied. Based on this method a mean quality factor and, subsequently, the dose equivalent is calculated according to the Q(LET ∞) relationship proposed in ICRP 26. An increased contribution of neutrons could be detected inside the Phantom. However the total dose equivalent did not increase over the depth of the Phantom. As the first Austrian measurements on the ISS dosemeter packages were exposed for 248 days, starting in February 2001 at six different locations onboard the ISS. The Austrian dosemeter sets for this first exposure on the ISS contained five different kinds of passive thermoluminescent dosemeters. First results showed a position dependent absorbed dose rate at the ISS.

Application of the high-temperature ratio method for evaluation of the depth distribution of dose equivalent in a water-filled phantom on board space station Mir.

A water-filled tissue equivalent phantom with a diameter of 35 cm was developed at the Institute for Biomedical Problems. Moscow. Russia. It contains four channels perpendicular to each other, where dosemeters can be exposed at different depths. Between May 1997 and February 1999 the phantom was installed at three different locations on board the Mir space station. Thermoluminescence dosemeters (TLDs) were exposed at various depths inside the phantom either parallel or perpendicular to the hull of the spacecraft. The high-temperature ratio (HTR) method was used for the evaluation of the TLDs. The method was developed at the Atominstitute of the Austrian Universities. Vienna, Austria, and has already been used for measurements in mixed radiation fields on earth and in space with great success. It uses the changes of peak height ratios in LiF:Mg,Ti glow curves in dependence on the linear energy transfer (LET), and therefore allows determination of an 'averaged' LET as well as measurement of the absorbed dose. A mean quality factor and, subsequently, the dose equivalent can be calculated according to the Q(LETinfinity) relationship proposed by the ICRP. The small size of the LiF dosemeters means that the HTR method can be used to determine the gradient of absorbed dose and dose equivalent inside the tissue equivalent body.

Interrelations between the small isolated groups with homogeneous and heterogeneous composition.

Increase in the heterogeneity of a space crew's composition (cultural and gender differences) is a risk factor that can negatively influence the formation of a cohesive crew, which depends on a common way of perceiving one's social environment, goals and values. Method. Three groups working in isolation from 110 to 240 days, all with different cultural and gender composition were analysed using a modification of Kelly's repertory grid technique during a space simulation at the Institute for Biomedical Problems, Moscow. Subjects assessed themselves and each other monthly. Results. National Russian and international groups failed to create a single cohesive crew. Members of both groups considered people from their group as "us" and their neighbours as "them". Their relations became more negative during the mission, with attitudes changing from neutral to poor. Subjects began to perceive each other as "different and distant". Cultural and language differences prevented national (Russian) and international groups from forming a common understanding of behavioural rules and establishing close emotional contacts. Conclusions. Differences in perception of the interpersonal environment, group goals and values in national and international groups hindered the formation of a joint cohesive crew.

Comparative floral development of Mir-grown and ethylene-treated, earth-grown Super Dwarf wheat

To study plant growth in microgravity, we grew Super Dwarf wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the Svet growth chamber onboard the orbiting Russian space station, Mir, and in identical ground control units at the Institute of BioMedical Problems in Moscow, Russia. Seedling emergence was 56% and 73% in the two root-module compartments on Mir and 75% and 90% on earth. Growth was vigorous (produced ca. 1 kg dry mass), and individual plants produced 5 to 8 tillers on Mir compared with 3 to 5 on earth-grown controls. Upon harvest in space and return to earth, however, all inflorescences of the flight-grown plants were sterile. To ascertain if Super Dwarf wheat responded to the 1.1 to 1.7 micromoles mol-1 atmospheric levels of ethylene measured on the Mir prior to and during flowering, plants on earth were exposed to 0, 1, 3, 10, and 20 micromoles mol-1 of ethylene gas and 1200 micromoles mol-1 CO2 from 7 d after emergence to maturity. As in our Mir wheat, plant height, awn length, and the flag leaf were significantly shorter in the ethylene-exposed plants than in controls; inflorescences also exhibited 100% sterility. Scanning-electron-microscopic (SEM) examination of florets from Mir-grown and ethylene-treated, earth-grown plants showed that development ceased prior to anthesis, and the anthers did not dehisce. Laser scanning confocal microscopic (LSCM) examination of pollen grains from Mir and ethylene-treated plants on earth exhibited zero, one, and occasionally two, but rarely three nuclei; pollen produced in the absence of ethylene was always trinucleate, the normal condition. The scarcity of trinucleate pollen, abrupt cessation of floret development prior to anthesis, and excess tillering in wheat plants on Mir and in ethylene-containing atmospheres on earth build a strong case for the ethylene on Mir as the agent for the induced male sterility and other symptoms, rather than microgravity.

Crew Performance in Space: Evidence from Simulation Studies

The operation of a permanently manned International Space Station represents a significant challenge to space agencies in the area of ensuring optimal crew performance. Interpersonal tension represents one factor that might interfere with the ability of individuals and groups to cooperate and communicate efficiently. An ongoing simulation study conducted at the Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow has provided an opportunity to investigate the interaction within and between two crews with four members, living for 110 and 240 days in separate modules. One group is multinational and the other is composed of Russians. The objective is to identify factors increasing interpersonal tension and strategies used by crewmembers for dealing with such problems. At regular intervals during the confinement, peer ratings and questionnaires concerning interpersonal relationships, mood and well being are completed. After the confinement, individual interviews are conducted. Preliminary results show that two critical incidents (violence and unwanted sexual approach) have resulted in a breakdown in communication between the two crews. The crews have reported frustration with how space agencies and outside personnel have dealt with these incidents. One subject left the chambers after 60 days of confinement.