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Wound healing (WH) and the role fibroblasts play in the process, as well as healing impairment and fibroblast dysfunction, have been thoroughly reviewed by other authors. We treat these topics briefly, with the only aim of contextualizing the true focus of this review, namely, the microgravity-induced changes in fibroblast functions involved in WH. Microgravity is a condition typical of spaceflight. Studying its possible effects on fibroblasts and WH is useful not only for the safety of astronauts who will face future interplanetary space missions, but also to help improve the management of WH impairment on Earth. The interesting similarity between microgravity-induced alterations of fibroblast behavior and fibroblast dysfunction in WH impairment on Earth is highlighted. The possibility of using microgravity-exposed fibroblasts and WH in space as models of healing impairment on Earth is suggested. The gaps in knowledge on fibroblast functions in WH are analyzed. The contribution that studies on fibroblast behavior in weightlessness can make to fill these gaps and, consequently, improve therapeutic strategies is considered.

SJ-10 program provides a mission of space microgravity experiments including both fields of microgravity science and space life science aboard the 24th recoverable satellite of China. Scientific purpose of the program is to promote the scientific research in the space microgravity environment by operating the satellite at lower earth orbit for 2 weeks. There are totally 27 experiments, including 17 ones in the field of microgravity science (microgravity fluid physics 6, microgravity combustion 3, and space materials science 8) and 10 in the field of space life science (radiation biology 3, gravitational biology 3, and space biotechnology 4). These experiments were selected from more than 200 applications. The satellite will be launched in the end of 2015 or a bit later. It is expected that many fruitful scientific results on microgravity science and space life science will be contributed by this program.

Exposure to prolonged periods in microgravity is associated with deconditioning of the musculoskeletal system due to chronic changes in mechanical stimulation. Given astronauts will operate on the Lunar surface for extended periods of time, it is critical to quantify both external (e.g., ground reaction forces) and internal (e.g., joint reaction forces) loads of relevant movements performed during Lunar missions. Such knowledge is key to predict musculoskeletal deconditioning and determine appropriate exercise countermeasures associated with extended exposure to hypogravity. The aim of this paper is to define an experimental protocol and methodology suitable to estimate in high-fidelity hypogravity conditions the lower limb internal joint reaction forces. State-of-the-art movement kinetics, kinematics, muscle activation and muscle-tendon unit behaviour during locomotor and plyometric movements will be collected and used as inputs (Objective 1), with musculoskeletal modelling and an optimisation framework used to estimate lower limb internal joint loading (Objective 2). Twenty-six healthy participants will be recruited for this cross-sectional study. Participants will walk, skip and run, at speeds ranging between 0.56-3.6 m/s, and perform plyometric movement trials at each gravity level (1, 0.7, 0.5, 0.38, 0.27 and 0.16g) in a randomized order. Through the collection of state-of-the-art kinetics, kinematics, muscle activation and muscle-tendon behaviour, a musculoskeletal modelling framework will be used to estimate lower limb joint reaction forces via tracking simulations. The results of this study will provide first estimations of internal musculoskeletal loads associated with human movement performed in a range of hypogravity levels. Thus, our unique data will be a key step towards modelling the musculoskeletal deconditioning associated with long term habitation on the Lunar surface, and thereby aiding the design of Lunar exercise countermeasures and mitigation strategies.

Endothelial cells exposed to the Random Positioning Machine (RPM) reveal three different phenotypes. They grow as a two-dimensional monolayer and form three-dimensional (3D) structures such as spheroids and tubular constructs. As part of the ESA-SPHEROIDS project we want to understand how endothelial cells (ECs) react and adapt to long-term microgravity. During a spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) and a subsequent stay onboard, human ECs (EA.hy926 cell line) were cultured for 12 days in real microgravity inside an automatic flight hardware, specially designed for use in space. ECs were cultivated in the absence or presence of vascular endothelial growth factor, which had demonstrated a cell-protective effect on ECs exposed to an RPM simulating microgravity. After cell fixation in space and return of the samples, we examined cell morphology and analyzed supernatants by Multianalyte Profiling technology. The fixed samples comprised 3D multicellular spheroids and tube-like structures in addition to monolayer cells, which are exclusively observed during growth under Earth gravity (1g). Within the 3D aggregates we detected enhanced collagen and laminin. The supernatant analysis unveiled alterations in secretion of several growth factors, cytokines, and extracellular matrix components as compared to cells cultivated at 1g or on the RPM. This confirmed an influence of gravity on interacting key proteins and genes and demonstrated a flight hardware impact on the endothelial secretome. Since formation of tube-like aggregates was observed only on the RPM and during spaceflight, we conclude that microgravity may be the major cause for ECs' 3D aggregation.

In 2014, NASA, in partnership with Made In Space, Inc., launched the first 3D printer to the International Space Station (ISS). Results of the first phase of operations for this mission demonstrated the use of the fused filament fabrication (FFF) process for 3D printing in a microgravity environment. Previously published results indicated differences in density and mechanical properties of specimens printed in microgravity and those manufactured with the printer prior to its launch to ISS. Based on extensive analyses, these differences were hypothesized to be a result of subtle changes in manufacturing process settings rather than a microgravity influence on the FFF process. Phase II operations provided an opportunity to produce additional specimens in microgravity, evaluate the impact of changes in the extruder standoff distance, and ultimately provide a more rigorous assessment of microgravity effects through control of manufacturing process settings. Based on phase II results and a holistic consideration of phase I and phase II flight specimens, no engineering-significant microgravity effects on the process are noted. Results of accompanying material modeling efforts, which simulate the FFF process under a variety of conditions (including microgravity), are also presented. No significant microgravity effects on material outcomes are noted in the physics-based model of the FFF process. The 3D Printing in Zero G Technology Demonstration Mission represents the first instance of off-world manufacturing. It represents the first step toward transforming logistics for long-duration space exploration and is also an important crew safety enhancement for extended space missions where cargo resupply is not readily available. This paper presents the holistic results of phase I and II on-orbit operations and also includes material modeling efforts.

Life on Earth has evolved under the influence of gravity. This force has played an important role in shaping development and morphology from the molecular level to the whole organism. Although aquatic life experiences reduced gravity effects, land plants have evolved under a 1- environment. Understanding gravitational effects requires changing the magnitude of this force. One method of eliminating gravity''s influence is to enter into a free-fall orbit around the planet, thereby achieving a balance between centripetal force of gravity and the centrifugal force of the moving object. This balance is often mistakenly referred to as microgravity, but is best described as weightlessness. In addition to actually compensating gravity, instruments such as clinostats, random-positioning machines (RPM), and magnetic levitation devices have been used to eliminate effects of constant gravity on plant growth and development. However, these platforms do not reduce gravity but constantly change its direction. Despite these fundamental differences, there are few studies that have investigated the comparability between these platforms and weightlessness. Here, we provide a review of the strengths and weaknesses of these analogs for the study of plant growth and development compared to spaceflight experiments. We also consider reduced or partial gravity effects spaceflight and analog methods. While these analogs are useful, the fidelity of the results relative to spaceflight depends on biological parameters and environmental conditions that cannot be simulated in ground-based studies.

Urban underground space exploration is an important way to solve urban underground problems, Identifying the geological structure of urban underground space is of great significance for urban development. Gravity exploration is one of the most commonly used and effective geophysical exploration methods, using a high-precision gravimeter to collect small changes in the gravity field within the survey area and obtain underground spatial anomalies through data analysis. This paper introduces the gravity exploration method, elaborates on the principle of microgravity measurement, constructs a cavity anomaly model, and conducts simulations to provide theoretical support for carrying out gravity measurement. Finally, experimental tests of the cavity model were carried out at the test site to verify the feasibility of microgravity measurement in urban underground space detection.

Biofabrication in space is one of the novel promising and prospective research directions in the rapidly emerging field of space STEM. There are several advantages of biofabrication in space. Under microgravity, it is possible to engineer constructs using more fluidic channels and thus more biocompatible bioinks. Microgravity enables biofabrication of tissue and organ constructs of more complex geometries, thus facilitating novel scaffold-, label-, and nozzle-free technologies based on multi-levitation principles. However, when exposed to microgravity and cosmic radiation, biofabricated tissues could be used to study pathophysiological phenomena that will be useful on Earth and for deep space manned missions. Here, we provide leading concepts about the potential mutual benefits of the application of biofabrication technologies in space. Space experiments in microgravity conditions advance the development of biofabrication technologies.Human organoids are useful novel in vitro human organ models, which can advance space life science research to study the effect of space microgravity.Human organoids could be used as biological ‘sentinels’ to study the effect and biomonitor space radiation.Histo-typical and organo-typical functional and vascularized human tissues and organs could be biofabricated in space from human organoids, ultimately using space environmental conditions (i.e., microgravity and cosmic radiation) as accelerators of human aging on Earth.

The effect of microgravity on skeletal muscles has so far been examined in rat and mice only after short-term (5-20 day) spaceflights. The mice drawer system (MDS) program, sponsored by Italian Space Agency, for the first time aimed to investigate the consequences of long-term (91 days) exposure to microgravity in mice within the International Space Station. Muscle atrophy was present indistinctly in all fiber types of the slow-twitch soleus muscle, but was only slightly greater than that observed after 20 days of spaceflight. Myosin heavy chain analysis indicated a concomitant slow-to-fast transition of soleus. In addition, spaceflight induced translocation of sarcolemmal nitric oxide synthase-1 (NOS1) into the cytosol in soleus but not in the fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle. Most of the sarcolemmal ion channel subunits were up-regulated, more in soleus than EDL, whereas Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels were down-regulated, consistent with the phenotype transition. Gene expression of the atrophy-related ubiquitin-ligases was up-regulated in both spaceflown soleus and EDL muscles, whereas autophagy genes were in the control range. Muscle-specific IGF-1 and interleukin-6 were down-regulated in soleus but up-regulated in EDL. Also, various stress-related genes were up-regulated in spaceflown EDL, not in soleus. Altogether, these results suggest that EDL muscle may resist to microgravity-induced atrophy by activating compensatory and protective pathways. Our study shows the extended sensitivity of antigravity soleus muscle after prolonged exposition to microgravity, suggests possible mechanisms accounting for the resistance of EDL, and individuates some molecular targets for the development of countermeasures.