Microgravity Conditions In Space Research Articles

Growth of biocrystalline films of PVC catalase in space using artificial epitaxy (graphoepitaxy)

The growth of biocrystalline films of catalase on amorphous substrates having a crystallographically symmetric microrelief (artificial epitaxy, or “graphoepitaxy”) was studied both under microgravity conditions in space and on the Earth. While highly oriented films formed under microgravity conditions, the films grown in comparable earth experiments were more disordered, with fewer crystallites oriented parallel to the steps of the microrelief. This difference can be explained by the fact that, in microgravity, only the surface forces between the biocrystallites and the substrates are active. On the Earth, other gravity-induced effects such as sedimentation and fluid convection also play an important role in crystallite orientation.

Development of an improved ground-based prototype of space plant-growing facility

Based on a formerly developed ground-based prototype of space plant-growing facility, the development of its improved prototype has been finished, so as to make its operating principle better adapt to the space microgravity environment. According to the developing experience of its first generation prototype and detailed demonstration and design of technique plan, its blueprint design and machining of related components, whole facility installment, debugging and trial operations were all done gradually. Its growing chamber contains a volume of about 0.5 m 3 and a growing area of approximate 0.5 m 2; the atmospheric environmental parameters in the growing chamber and water content in the growing media were controlled totally and effectively; lighting source is a combination of both red and blue light emitting diodes (LED). The following demonstrating results showed that the entire system design of the prototype is reasonable and its operating principle can nearly meet the requirements of space microgravity environment. Therefore, our plant-growing technique in space was advanced further, which laid an important foundation for next development of the space plant-growing facility and plant-cultivating experimental research in space microgravity condition.

Effects of lighting and air movement on temperatures in reproductive organs of plants in a closed plant growth facility

Temperature increases in plant reproductive organs such as anthers and stigmas could cause fertility impediments and thus produce sterile seeds under artificial lighting conditions without adequately controlled environments in closed plant growth facilities. There is a possibility such a situation could occur in Bioregenerative Life Support Systems under microgravity conditions in space because there will be little natural convective or thermal mixing. This study was conducted to determine the temperature of the plant reproductive organs as affected by illumination and air movement under normal gravitational forces on the earth and to make an estimation of the temperature increase in reproductive organs in closed plant growth facilities under microgravity in space. Thermal images of reproductive organs of rice and strawberry were captured using infrared thermography at air temperatures of 10–11 °C. Compared to the air temperature, temperatures of petals, stigmas and anthers of strawberry increased by 24, 22 and 14 °C, respectively, after 5 min of lighting at an irradiance of 160 W m −2 from incandescent lamps. Temperatures of reproductive organs and leaves of strawberry were significantly higher than those of rice. The temperatures of petals, stigmas, anthers and leaves of strawberry decreased by 13, 12, 13 and 14 °C, respectively, when the air velocity was increased from 0.1 to 1.0 ms −1. These results show that air movement is necessary to reduce the temperatures of plant reproductive organs in plant growth facilities.

Heat and Gas Exchanges between Plants and Atmosphere under Microgravity Conditions

Fundamental studies were conducted to develop a facility having an adequate air circulation system for growing healthy plants over a long term under microgravity conditions in space. To clarify the effects of gravity on heat and gas exchanges between plant leaves and the ambient air, surface temperatures and net photosynthetic rates of barley leaves were evaluated at gravity levels of 0.01, 1.0, and 2.0 g for 20 sec each during parabolic airplane flights. Thermal images were captured using infrared thermography at an air temperature of 22 degrees C, a relative humidity of 18%, and an irradiance of 260 W/m2. The net photosynthetic rates were determined by means of a chamber method with an infrared gas analyzer at an air temperature of 20 degrees C, a relative humidity of 50%, and photosynthetic photon fluxes (PPFDs) of 250 and 500 micromol/m2/sec. Mean leaf temperatures increased by 1.9 degrees C with decreasing gravity levels from 1.0 to 0.01 g and decreased by 0.6 degrees C with increasing gravity levels from 1.0 to 2.0 g. The increase in leaf temperatures was greater at the regions closer to the leaf tip and at most 2.5 degrees C over 20 sec as gravity decreased from 1.0 to 0.01 g. The net photosynthetic rate decreased by 20% with decreasing gravity levels from 1.0 to 0.01 g and increased by 10% with increasing gravity levels from 1.0 to 2.0 g at a PPFD of 500 micromol/m2/sec. The heat and gas exchanges between leaves and the ambient air were suppressed more at the lower gravity levels. The retardation would be caused by heat and gas transfers with less heat convection. Restricted free air convection under microgravity conditions in space would limit plant growth by retarding heat and gas exchanges between leaves and the ambient air.

Macromolecular Crystallization in Microgravity Generated by a Superconducting Magnet

About 30% of the protein crystals grown in space yield better X-ray diffraction data than the best crystals grown on the earth. The microgravity environments provided by the application of an upward magnetic force constitute excellent candidates for simulating the microgravity conditions in space. Here, we describe a method to control effective gravity and formation of protein crystals in various levels of effective gravity. Since 2002, the stable and long-time durable microgravity generated by a convenient type of superconducting magnet has been available for protein crystal growth. For the first time, protein crystals, orthorhombic lysozyme, were grown at microgravity on the earth, and it was proved that this microgravity improved the crystal quality effectively and reproducibly. The present method always accompanies a strong magnetic field, and the magnetic field itself seems to improve crystal quality. Microgravity is not always effective for improving crystal quality. When we applied this microgravity to the formation of cubic porcine insulin and tetragonal lysozyme crystals, we observed no dependence of effective gravity on crystal quality. Thus, this kind of test will be useful for selecting promising proteins prior to the space experiments. Finally, the microgravity generated by the magnet is compared with that in space, considering the cost, the quality of microgravity, experimental convenience, etc., and the future use of this microgravity for macromolecular crystal growth is discussed.

Automorphosis-like growth in etiolated pea seedlings is induced by the application of chemicals affecting perception of gravistimulation and its signal transduction

Both microgravity conditions in space and simulated microgravity using a 3-dimensional clinostat resulted in: (1) automorphosis of etiolated pea seedlings, (2) epicotyls bending ca. 45° from the vertical line to the direction away from cotyledons, (3) inhibition of hook formation and (4) alternation of growth direction of roots. These facts indicate that the growth and development of etiolated pea seedlings on earth is under the influence of gravistimulation. Lanthanum and gadolinium ions, blockers of stretch-activated mechanosensitive ion channels, induced automorphosis-like epicotyl bending. Cantharidin, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase, also phenocopied automorphosis-like growth. On the other hand, cytochalasin B, cytochalasin D and brefeldin A did not induce automorphological epicotyl bending and inhibition of hook formation, although these compounds strikingly inhibited elongation of etiolated pea epicotyls. These results strongly suggest that stretch-activated mechanosensitive ion channels are involved in the perception of signals of gravistimuli in plants, and they are transduced by protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation cascades by changing levels of calcium ions. Possible mechanisms to induce automorphosis-like growth in relation to gravity signals in etiolated pea seedlings are discussed.

Cell wall changes involved in the automorphic curvature of rice coleoptiles under microgravity conditions in space

Seedlings of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Koshihikari and cv. Tan-ginbozu) were cultivated on board the Space Shuttle STS-95 mission and changes in the morphology and the cell wall properties of coleoptiles were analyzed. In space, rice coleoptiles showed a spontaneous (automorphic) curvature toward the caryopsis in the elongating region. The angle of automorphic curvature was larger in Koshihikari than in a gibberellin-deficient dwarf cultivar, Tan-ginbozu, and the angle gradually decreased during the growth of coleoptiles in both cultivars. The more quickly expanding convex side of the bending region of the rice coleoptiles showed a greater extensibility of the cell wall than the opposite side. There was a significant correlation between the angle of curvature and the difference in the cell wall extensibility between the convex and the concave sides. Both the levels of the cell wall polysaccharides per unit length of coleoptile and the ratio of high-molecular-mass polysaccharides in the hemicellulose fraction were lower in the convex side than the concave one. Also, the activity of (1-->3),(1-->4)-beta-glucanases in the cell wall was higher in the convex side than the concave one. These results suggest that the uneven modifications of cell wall metabolism bring about the difference in the levels and the molecular size of the cell wall polysaccharides, thereby causing the difference in capacity of the cell wall to expand between the dorsal and the ventral sides, leading to the automorphic curvature of rice coleoptiles in space. The data also suggest the involvement of gibberellins in inducing the automorphic curvature under microgravity conditions.

Formation of protein crystals (orthorhombic lysozyme) in quasi-microgravity environment obtained by superconducting magnet

As one of the best candidates for simulating the microgravity conditions in space, low gravity environments provided by applying an upward magnetic force have been considered to grow protein crystals. Since 2002, the stable and long-time durable microgravity generated by a superconducting magnet has been available for protein crystal growth. In this paper, for the first time, we grew protein crystals (orthorhombic lysozyme crystals) at quasi-microgravity. The present study showed that quasi-microgravity improves the crystal quality effectively and reproducibly. The application of strong magnetic field also improves the crystal quality. Furthermore, it is possible to know if microgravity is effective for the improvement of crystal quality or not by growing crystals in microgravity and hypergravity inside the superconducting magnet and comparing the crystal quality with each other. Such test will be useful to select promising proteins prior to the space experiments.

Growth and development, and auxin polar transport of transgenic Arabidopsis under simulated microgravity conditions on a three-dimensional clinostat.

Growth and development, and auxin polar transport in Arabidopsis thaliana transformed with iaaH gene were studied under simulated microgravity conditions on a three-dimensional (3-D) clinostat. Simulated microgravity conditions on a 3-D clinostat did not affect the number of rosette leaves but promoted the growth and development (fresh weight of plant and the elongation of flower stalk) of transformants. Final growth of transformants under simulated microgravity conditions on a 3-D clinostat was almost equivalent to that grown on 1 g conditions in the presence of 1 micromoles IAM (indole-3-acetamide). The activities of auxin polar transport in the segments of flower stalk (inflorescence axis) of transformants grown on 1 g conditions were significantly promoted by the addition of IAM. Interestingly, simulated microgravity conditions on a 3-D clinostat also promoted the activities of auxin polar transport of transformants grown on the medium with or without IAM. Based on the results in this study, transgenic plants may not have an efficient homeostatic mechanism for the control of growth and development, and auxin polar transport activity in microgravity conditions in space.

Stimulation of Elongation Growth and Cell Wall Loosening in Rice Coleoptiles under Microgravity Conditions in Space

We analyzed the growth rate and the cell wall properties of coleoptiles of rice seedlings grown at 23.6 degrees C for 68.5, 91.5 and 136 h during the Space Shuttle STS-95 mission. In space, elongation growth of coleoptiles was stimulated and the cell wall extensibility increased. Also, the levels of the cell wall polysaccharides per unit length of coleoptiles and the relative content of the high molecular mass matrix polysaccharides decreased in space. These differences in the cell wall polysaccharides could be involved in increasing the cell wall extensibility, leading to growth stimulation of rice coleoptiles in space.

"Liquidless" cell staining by dye diffusion from gels and analysis by laser scanning cytometry: potential application at microgravity conditions in space.

Conventional staining of cells or tissue sections on microscope slides involves immersing the slides into solutions of dyes then rinsing to remove the unbound dye. There are instances, however, when use of stain solutions is undesirable-e.g., at microgravity conditions in space, where the possibility of accidental spill (many dyes are known carcinogens) introduces health hazard. Likewise, transporting bulk of liquid stains and rinses may be burdensome in certain situations such as field expeditions or combat. The "liquidless" staining procedure is proposed in which the dyes are contained in thin strips of hydrated polyacrylamide or gelatin gels that have been presoaked in the stain solutions. Fluorochromes that have affinity to DNA (propidium iodide, PI; 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, DAPI, Hoechst 33342) or to protein (sulforhodamine 101) were used to saturate the gels. The gel strips were placed over the prefixed cells or tissue sections deposited on microscope slides and relatively low (20 g/cm2) pressure was applied to ensure the contact. The cells were also stained by using commercially available mounting media into which DAPI or PI were admixed. Intensity of fluorescence of the PI stained cells was measured by laser scanning cytometry (LSC). Satisfactory cell and tissue staining, with minimal background, was achieved after 10-20 min contact between the cells and gels. Optimal concentrations of the dyes in the solutions used to presoak the gels was found to be 2-4-fold higher than the concentrations used routinely in cytometry. The measurements of intensity of cellular fluorescence by LSC revealed that the staining of DNA was stoichiometric as reflected by the characteristic cellular DNA content frequency histograms with distinct G1, S, and G2/M cell populations and 2:1 ratio of G2/M to G1 peak fluorescence. Individual gels can be saturated with more than a single dye-e.g., to obtain differential DNA and protein staining. Cell staining with DAPI or PI in the gelatin-based mounting media led to high fluorescence background while staining with DAPI in "aqueous" medium was satisfactory. Relatively fast staining of cells or tissue sections on microscope slides can be achieved by nonconvective dye diffusion using hydrated gels permeated with the dyes, applied to cells at low pressure. The quality of the staining provided by this methodology is comparable to conventional cell staining in dye solutions.

The effect of gravity on surface temperature and net photosynthetic rate of plant leaves.

To clarify the effects of gravity on heat/gas exchange between plant leaves and the ambient air, the leaf temperatures and net photosynthetic rates of plant leaves were evaluated at 0.01, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 G of 20 seconds each during a parabolic airplane flight. Thermal images of leaves were captured using infrared thermography at an air temperature of 26 degrees C, a relative humidity of 15% and an irradiance of 260 W m-2. The net photosynthetic rates were determined by using a chamber method with an infrared gas analyzer at an air temperature of 20 degrees C, a relative humidity of 50% and a photosynthetic photon flux of 0.5 mmol m-2 s-1. The mean leaf temperature increased by 1 degree C and the net photosynthetic rate decreased by 13% with decreasing gravity levels from 1.0 to 0.01 G. The leaf temperature decreased by 0.5 degree C and the net photosynthetic rate increased by 7% with increasing gravity levels from 1.0 to 2.0 G. Heat/gas exchanges between leaves and the ambient air were more retarded at lower gravity levels. A restricted free air convection under microgravity conditions in space would limit plant growth by retarding heat and gas exchanges between leaves and the ambient air.

Universal amplitude ratios for the superfluid transition of 4He

We present the results of a three-loop calculation of amplitude functions within the O( n) symmetric φ 4 theory in three dimensions for general n below T c. An appropriate treatment of Goldstone modes avoids spurious singularities for n>1. Several universal amplitude ratios are calculated using Borel resummation. Application to n=2 yields the α-insensitive quantity for the specific heat amplitude ratio P= α −1(1− A +/ A −)=4.39±0.26. For the superfluid density we get R ξ T = ξ 0 T ( A −) 1/3=0.815±0.010. These results are significantly more accurate than previous theoretical estimates and agree well with experimental results for the superfluid transition of 4He. Accurate knowledge of these amplitude ratios is needed for testing the renormalization-group prediction of critical-point universality along the λ-line of superfluid 4He on earth and under microgravity conditions in space.

Interaction of gravity with other environmental factors in growth and development: An introduction

The life of plants and other organisms is governed by the constant force of gravity on earth. The mechanism of graviperception, signal transduction, and gravireaction is one of the major themes in space biology. When gravity controls each step of the life cycle such as growth and development, it does not work alone but operates with the interaction of other environmental factors. In order to understand the role of gravity in regulation of the life cycle, such interactions also should be clarified. Under microgravity conditions in space, various changes are brought about in the process of growth and development. Some changes would be advantageous to organisms, but others would be unfavorable. For overcoming such disadvantages, it may be required to exploit some other environmental factors which substitute for gravity in some properties. In terrestrial plants, gravity can be replaced by light under certain conditions. The gravity-substituting factors may play a principal role in future space development.

Agravitropic mutant for the study of hydrotropism in seedling roots

Roots have been shown to respond to a moisture gradient by positive hydrotropism. Agravitropic mutant plants are useful for the study of the hydrotropism in roots because on Earth hydrotropism is obviously altered by the gravity response in the roots of normally gravitropic plants. The roots are able to sense water potential gradient as small as 0.5 MPa mm −1. The root cap includes the sensing apparatus that causes a differential growth at the elongation region of roots. A gradient in apoplastic calcium and calcium influx through plasmamembrane in the root cap is somehow involved in the signal transduction mechanism in hydrotropism, which may cause a differential change in cell wall extensibility at the elongation region. We have isolated an endoxy loglucan transferase ( EXGT) gene that is strongly expressed in pea roots and appears to be involved in the differential growth in hydrotropically responding roots. Thus, it is now possible to study hydrotropism in roots by comparing with or separate from gravitropism. These results also imply that microgravity conditions in space are useful for the study of hydrotropism and its interaction with gravitropism.

High Resolution X-ray Diffractometry and Topography of Float-Zone GaAs Crystals Grown in Microgravity

Abstract High resolution Bragg-case X-ray double and triple axis diffractometry and Laue-case white beam synchrotron X-ray topography experiments have been performed on undoped [001] oriented float-zone GaAs crystals have been grown under microgravity conditions in space on the D2 mission. Near the seed, excellent anomalous transmission was achieved and a clear cellular structure of dislocations observed. The double and triple axis rocking curves were comparable with those from semi-insulating terrestrial material. Following a heater failure, the molten zone height dropped and reciprocal space maps revealed a long ridge of scatter transverse to the diffraction vector direction. This corresponds to the presence of a distribution of sub-grains containing little internal strain. Continued growth resulted in twin formation.

Ａｆｔｅｒ Ｎｙｓｔａｇｍｕｓに関する問題点について

Questions about the characteristics of after nystagmus were raised and discussed.1. Why is the behavior of OKN and OKAN so different in different animal species, especially between humans and monkeys ?2. Steady firing from the labyrinth is essential for generating OKAN. The elimination of OKAN may not be welcomed from the physiological point of view. Is vestibular neurectomy for treating Meniere disease etc. therefore not recommended ?3. The flocculus plays an important role in the generation of high speed OKAN. Is OKAN less prominent in patients with cerebellar lesions, including flocculus, than in normal subjects ?4. Horizontal OKAN is greatly reduced under 0 G conditions created by parabolic flight. Is OKAN reduced under microgravity conditions in space ?5. In monkeys, the velocity storage mechanism may be related to generation of the first phase of caloric nystagmus. There is some difference of caloric nystagmus direction between monkeys and human subjects, in supine and prone positions, especially in the direction of the torsional component. Is this phenomenon interpreted as species difference ?6. The same vestibular nucleus neurons share pathways of generations of OKAN and post rotatory nystgamus. Can we conclude that the time constant of these two types of nystagmus is similar ?

Critical needs of fringe-order accuracies in two-color holographic interferometry

Two-color holographic interferometry is a promising technique for separating simultaneous concentration and temperature variations in solution for crystal-growth experiments on earth and in microgravity conditions in space. The ultimate success depends on two linearly independent fringe patterns due to the different wavelengths. With available practical lasers and typical crystal-growth experimental conditions the two interference fringe patterns (other than scale effects) may not be too different. The slight error in the measured fringe order can then yield large uncertainty in temperature and concentration determination. This aspect is analytically considered for the first time in this article. A simple cell (rectangular parallelpiped) is considered containing the fluid. For simplicyt, we assume a constant field along the object-wave-propagation direction in the cell. The two reconstructed fringe patterns are then represented in terms of temperature and concentration variations. Solving two equations theoretically yields the desired temperature and concentration. However, once the fringe-postition measurement error is introduced, error in the temperature and concentration results. These errors are analytically determined. A particular case of TGS (triglycine sulfate) aqueous solution with HeNe (λ=632.8 nm) and HeCd (λ=441.6 nm) lasers for holography is critically discussed. It is found that a high degree of accuracy in the fringe order is required in this particular case. To improve fringe-position measurements, special techniques such as electronic phase measurement or heterodyne detection may be necessary. The study provides the analytical guidelines for designing the experiments and critical needs of desired physical parameters.

Influence of preparation conditions on diffusion in glasses

It has been found that mass transport belongs to those properties which are clearly influenced by the mode of formation of a glass. Thermal history, microstructure and impurity states can be elucidated by performing suitable diffusion experiments. Referring to oxide glasses some of the relevant formation parameters and their influences on self diffusion and interdiffusion of ions and migration of gas atoms are compiled. The preparation method (especially for the case of vitreous silica), the atmosphere above the melt, and the particular thermal history of a specimen are important. Electrical conductivity is also influenced in a similar way. Moreover, the particular experimental conditions, i.e. how a diffusion experiment is conducted (both during the diffusion anneal and when the profile is determined), may also strongly influence the results. In order to be able to separate such effects from the real influence of the formation mode on diffusion, they have also to be discussed. In the melt state diffusion may be influenced by buoyancy convection. This can be overcome by performing the experiment under microgravity conditions in space.