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Space travel has advanced significantly over the last six decades with astronauts spending up to 6 months at the International Space Station. Nonetheless, the living environment while in outer space is extremely challenging to astronauts. In particular, exposure to space radiation represents a serious potential long-term threat to the health of astronauts because the amount of radiation exposure accumulates during their time in space. Therefore, health risks associated with exposure to space radiation are an important topic in space travel, and characterizing space radiation in detail is essential for improving the safety of space missions. In the first part of this review, we provide an overview of the space radiation environment and briefly present current and future endeavors that monitor different space radiation environments. We then present research evaluating adverse biological effects caused by exposure to various space radiation environments and how these can be reduced. We especially consider the deleterious effects on cellular DNA and how cells activate DNA repair mechanisms. The latest technologies being developed, e.g., a fluorescent ubiquitination-based cell cycle indicator, to measure real-time cell cycle progression and DNA damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation are presented. Progress in examining the combined effects of microgravity and radiation to animals and plants are summarized, and our current understanding of the relationship between psychological stress and radiation is presented. Finally, we provide details about protective agents and the study of organisms that are highly resistant to radiation and how their biological mechanisms may aid developing novel technologies that alleviate biological damage caused by radiation. Future research that furthers our understanding of the effects of space radiation on human health will facilitate risk-mitigating strategies to enable long-term space and planetary exploration.

The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewers and editors who provided helpful criticism and suggestions which greatly contributed to improve the original manuscript. Acknowledgments are due to Francisco Coelho and Abel Ferreira for assistance in UV intensity measurements and to Prof. Rosário Correia (Physics Department, Universiy of Aveiro) for reviewing the manuscript. Financial support for this work was provided by CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro) and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the form of a PhD grant to A. L. Santos (SFRH/BD/40160/2007) and a post-Doctoral grant to I. Henriques (SFRH/BPD/63487/2009).

The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella Linnaeus, is a ubiquitous pest of the honeybee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, and Apis cerana Fabricius. The greater wax moth larvae burrow into the edge of unsealed cells with pollen, bee brood, and honey through to the midrib of honeybee comb. Burrowing larvae leave behind masses of webs which causes galleriasis and later absconding of colonies. The damage caused by G. mellonella larvae is severe in tropical and sub-tropical regions, and is believed to be one of the contributing factors to the decline in both feral and wild honeybee populations. Previously, the pest was considered a nuisance in honeybee colonies, therefore, most studies have focused on the pest as a model for in vivo studies of toxicology and pathogenicity. It is currently widespread, especially in Africa, and the potential of transmitting honeybee viruses has raised legitimate concern, thus, there is need for more studies to find sustainable integrated management strategies. However, our knowledge of this pest is limited. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on the biology, distribution, economic damage, and management options. In addition, we provide prospects that need consideration for better understanding and management of the pest.

The study explores the aftermath of a wastewater reservoir failure in a phosphate fertilizer industry, resulting in the release of acidic water containing phosphorus and sulfate compounds into the Ashalim stream’s Nature Reserve in the Judean desert, which affected the soil surface biological crusts (biocrusts) layer. The study aims to examine contamination effects on biocrusts over 3 years at two research sites along the stream, compare effects between contaminated sites, assess rehabilitation treatments, and examine their impact on soil characteristics. Hypotheses suggest significant damage to biocrusts due to acidic water flow, requiring human intervention for accelerated restoration. The results indicate adverse effects on biocrust properties, risking its key role in the desert ecosystem. The biocrust layer covering the stream’s ground surface suffered significant physical, chemical, and biological damage due to exposure to industrial process effluents. However, soil enrichment treatments, including biocrust components and organic material, show promising effects on biocrust recovery.

Computed tomography (CT) is known for its non-invasiveness, fast procedure, and also for providing detailed diagnostic information to physicians. It also utilises low-dose-rate ionising radiation (X-rays) as a source for imaging. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is an advanced system that uses iodinated contrast media for more accurate diagnostic results. Studies suggest using these contrasts will lead to greater radiation adsorption with significant DNA damage. No studies have been taken comparing the physical dose with the biological effect. The present study sheds light on the same by assessing the biological effect of CT with and without contrast intervention. The present study is timebound; thus, 21 participants attending for CT thorax and abdomen with no history of any cancer were included. The same participants underwent both pre-contrast and post-contrast studies. The blood sample was taken before the procedure and used as a control. Physical parameters like DLP and CTDI obtained from the instrument were compared with the MN frequency obtained (CBMN Assay). The study showed a significant increase ( p -value < 0.05) in the Physical and MN frequency in the Post-Contrast group compared to the pre-contrast group. Although a positive correlation was observed between pre and post-contrast groups, the results were not found to be statistically significant ( p -value < 0.05). The study confirms increased physical dose and MN frequency upon contrast intervention. This study recommends the judicial use of MDCT in disease diagnostics.

A ship grounding on coral reefs can cause severe physical and biological damage, including coral dislodgement and removal, skeleton destruction, sediment erosion, and loss of three-dimensional complexity. The event of a ship grounding in Karimunjawa National Park caused live coral degradation of 100% and massive damage to foliose and branched coral. The total loss of hard coral biodiversity reached 261,274 colonies in an area of ±2687.87 square meters. This destruction has reduced the biodiversity of coral reefs, necessitating urgent conservation and restoration efforts in the affected area. The specific data provided, such as variations in population and density, helps provide a comprehensive understanding of the ecological damage caused by the ship grounding.

Bone drilling is a universal procedure in orthopaedics for fracture fixation, installing implants, or reconstructive surgery. Surgical drills are subjected to wear caused by their repeated use, thermal fatigue, irrigation with saline solution, and sterilization process. Wear of the cutting edges of a drill bit (worn drill) is detrimental for bone tissues and can seriously affect its performance. The aim of this study is to move closer to minimally invasive surgical procedures in bones by investigating the effect of wear of surgical drill bits on their performance. The surface quality of the drill was found to influence the bone temperature, the axial force, the torque and the extent of biological damage around the drilling region. Worn drill produced heat above the threshold level related to thermal necrosis at a depth equal to the wall thickness of an adult human bone. Statistical analysis showed that a sharp drill bit, in combination with a medium drilling speed and drilling at shallow depth, was favourable for safe drilling in bone. This study also suggests the further research on establishing a relationship between surface integrity of a surgical drill bit and irreversible damage that it can induce in delicate tissues of bone using different drill sizes as well as drilling parameters and conditions.

Air pollution contains a mixture of different pollutants from multiple sources. However, the interaction of these pollutants with other environmental exposures, as well as their harmful effects on children under five in tropical countries, is not well known. This study aims to characterize the external exposome (ambient and indoor exposures) and its contribution to clinical respiratory and early biological effects in children. A cohort study will be conducted on children under five (n = 500) with a one-year follow-up. Enrolled children will be followed monthly (phone call) and at months 6 and 12 (in person) post-enrolment with upper and lower Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) examinations, asthma development, asthma control, and genotoxic damage. The asthma diagnosis will be pediatric pulmonologist-based and a standardized protocol will be used. Exposure, effect, and susceptibility biomarkers will be measured on buccal cells samples. For environmental exposures PM2.5 will be sampled, and questionnaires, geographic information, dispersion models and Land Use Regression models for PM2.5 and NO2 will be used. Different statistical methods that include Bayesian and machine learning techniques will be used for the ambient and indoor exposures-and outcomes. This study was approved by the ethics committee at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. To estimate i) The toxic effect of particulate matter transcending the approach based on pollutant concentration levels; ii) The risk of developing an upper and lower ARI, based on different exposure windows; iii) A baseline of early biological damage in children under five, and describe its progression after a one-year follow-up; and iv) How physical and chemical PM2.5 characteristics influence toxicity and children's health.

Far-ultraviolet radiation C light (far-UVC; 222 nm wavelength) has received attention as a safer light for killing pathogenic bacteria and viruses, as no or little DNA damage is observed after irradiation in mammalian skin models. Far-UVC does not penetrate deeply into tissues; therefore, it cannot reach the underlying critical basal cells. However, it was unclear whether far-UVC (222-UVC) irradiation could cause more biological damage at shallower depths than the 254 nm UVC irradiation (254-UVC), which penetrates more deeply. This study investigated the biological effects of 222- and 254-UVC on the small and transparent model organism Caenorhabditis elegans . At the same energy level of irradiation, 222-UVC introduced slightly less cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer damage to naked DNA in solution than 254-UVC. The survival of eggs laid during 0–4 h after irradiation showed a marked decrease with 254-UVC but not 222-UVC. In addition, defect of chromosomal condensation was observed in a full-grown oocyte by 254-UVC irradiation. In contrast, 222-UVC had a significant effect on the loss of motility of C . elegans . The sensory nervous system, which includes dopamine CEP and PVD neurons on the body surface, was severely damaged by 222-UVC, but not by the same dose of 254-UVC. Interestingly, increasing 254-UVC irradiation by about 10-fold causes similar damage to CEP neurons. These results suggest that 222-UVC is less penetrating, so energy transfer occurs more effectively in tissues near the surface, causing more severe damage than 254-UVC.

Indonesia as an archipelagic country is prone to damage to coral reefs. The grounding of ships on coral reefs has resulted in severe physical and biological damage. The grounding of ships on coral reefs has resulted in severe physical and biological damage, including the uprooting and crashing of coral skeletons, dislodgment and displacement of sediment, and loss of three-dimensional complexity. Most of the damage was devastating. The purpose of this study is to identify levels of damage and impact of shipgrounding to coral reefs in Indonesian waters. The research method in this study uses the Line Intercept Transect (LIT) and underwater photo transect (UPT) to measurement of the level of damage and its impact. The result of this study is profile of coral reefs that were predominantly hit by ships was a patch reef (67%) and and mostly occurred due to human error (78%). This research found some types of damage in the form of a trajectory, mounds, propeller, partials, and dispersals. There has been a very significant change in the bottom substrate of the waters both by large, medium, and small vessels. The average live hard coral cover in affected area from 42.70 ± 5.26%, changing to no live coral, it is mean the mortality of live coral cover reached 100%. And rubble coverage increased from 11.19±6.10% to 61±18.41%. Increasing of rubble is an important concern because it causes acute damage to coral reefs, the same as coral damage caused by fishing bombs and destructive fishing.