V̇O2 and HR kinetics before and after International Space Station missions.

PURPOSE: Heart rate (HR), pulmonary and muscle oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O2pulm, [Formula: see text]O2musc) kinetics after changes of work rate (WR) indicate regulatory characteristics related to aerobic metabolism. We analysed whether the kinetics of HR, [Formula: see text]O2pulm and [Formula: see text]O2musc are slowed after missions to the International Space Station (ISS). The changes of the kinetics were correlated with [Formula: see text]O2peak data. METHODS: 10 astronauts [4 females, 6 males, age: 48.0 ± 3.8 years, height: 176 ± 7 cm, mass: 74.5 ± 15.9 kg (mean ± SD)] performed an incremental test to determine [Formula: see text]O2peak (before missions on L-110 days, after return on R+1/+10/+36 days), and a cardio-respiratory kinetics test (CRKT) with randomized 30-80 W WR changes to determine HR, [Formula: see text]O2pulm and [Formula: see text]O2musc kinetics by time-series analysis (L-236/-73, R+6/+21). Kinetics were summarized by maximum and related lag of cross-correlation function (CCFmax, CCFlag) of WR with the analysed parameter. RESULTS: Statistically, significant changes were also found for CCFmax([Formula: see text]O2musc) between L-236 and R+6 (P = 0.010), L-236 and R+21 (P = 0.030), L-72 and R+6 (P = 0.043). Between pre-to-post mission change in [Formula: see text]O2peak and CCFmax(HR), a correlation was shown (r SP = 0.67, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: The [Formula: see text]O2musc kinetics changes indicate aerobic detraining effects which are present up to 21 days following space flight. The correlations between changes in [Formula: see text]O2peak and HR kinetics illustrate the key role of cardiovascular regulation in [Formula: see text]O2peak. The addition of CRKT to ISS flight is recommended to obtain information regarding the potential muscular and cardiovascular deconditioning. This allows a reduction in the frequency of higher intensity testing during flight.

Spruce budworm mortality as a function of aerial spray droplet size.

The size and number of aerial spray drops impinging on spruce budworm in its conifer forest habitat were determined by means of a new tracer method that uses fluorescent particles in a liquid spray. Examination of 1113 larvae affected by an experimental insecticide that had been applied to a 5000-acre (2024-ha) test area in Montana showed that 93 percent had not been contacted by any droplets larger than 50 micro in diameter. Small numbers of droplets 50 to 100 micro in diameter were found on 7 percent of the larvae, along with lethal numbers of smaller drops. No evidence was found that significant numbers of drops larger than 100 micro reached the target insects. Because about 95 percent of the spray applied to forests by current methods consist of droplets larger than 50 micro, the biologically effective portion of the drop spectrum is only a few percent. The data foreshadow a major potential reduction in insecticide requirements for the successful control of spruce budworm.

Integrating diverse forage sources reduces feed gaps on mixed crop-livestock farms.

Highly variable climates induce large variability in the supply of forage for livestock and so farmers must manage their livestock systems to reduce the risk of feed gaps (i.e. periods when livestock feed demand exceeds forage supply). However, mixed crop-livestock farmers can utilise a range of feed sources on their farms to help mitigate these risks. This paper reports on the development and application of a simple whole-farm feed-energy balance calculator which is used to evaluate the frequency and magnitude of feed gaps. The calculator matches long-term simulations of variation in forage and metabolisable energy supply from diverse sources against energy demand for different livestock enterprises. Scenarios of increasing the diversity of forage sources in livestock systems is investigated for six locations selected to span Australia's crop-livestock zone. We found that systems relying on only one feed source were prone to higher risk of feed gaps, and hence, would often have to reduce stocking rates to mitigate these risks or use supplementary feed. At all sites, by adding more feed sources to the farm feedbase the continuity of supply of both fresh and carry-over forage was improved, reducing the frequency and magnitude of feed deficits. However, there were diminishing returns from making the feedbase more complex, with combinations of two to three feed sources typically achieving the maximum benefits in terms of reducing the risk of feed gaps. Higher stocking rates could be maintained while limiting risk when combinations of other feed sources were introduced into the feedbase. For the same level of risk, a feedbase relying on a diversity of forage sources could support stocking rates 1.4 to 3 times higher than if they were using a single pasture source. This suggests that there is significant capacity to mitigate both risk of feed gaps at the same time as increasing 'safe' stocking rates through better integration of feed sources on mixed crop-livestock farms across diverse regions and climates.

Decreases in maximal oxygen uptake following long-duration spaceflight: Role of convective and diffusive O2 transport mechanisms.

We have previously predicted that the decrease in maximal oxygen uptake (V̇o2max) that accompanies time in microgravity reflects decrements in both convective and diffusive O2 transport to the mitochondria of the contracting myocytes. The aim of this investigation was therefore to quantify the relative changes in convective O2 transport (Q̇o2) and O2 diffusing capacity (Do2) following long-duration spaceflight. In nine astronauts, resting hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]), V̇o2max, maximal cardiac output (Q̇Tmax), and differences in arterial and venous O2 contents ([Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]) were obtained retrospectively for International Space Station Increments 19-33 (April 2009-November 2012). Q̇o2 and Do2 were calculated from these variables via integration of Fick's Principle of Mass Conservation and Fick's Law of Diffusion. V̇o2max significantly decreased from pre- to postflight (-53.9 ± 45.5%, P = 0.008). The significant decrease in Q̇Tmax (-7.8 ± 9.1%, P = 0.05), despite an unchanged [Hb], resulted in a significantly decreased Q̇o2 (-11.4 ± 10.5%, P = 0.02). Do2 significantly decreased from pre- to postflight by -27.5 ± 24.5% (P = 0.04), as did the peak [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] (-9.2 ± 7.5%, P = 0.007). With the use of linear regression analysis, changes in V̇o2max were significantly correlated with changes in Do2 (R2 = 0.47; P = 0.04). These data suggest that spaceflight decreases both convective and diffusive O2 transport. These results have practical implications for future long-duration space missions and highlight the need to resolve the specific mechanisms underlying these spaceflight-induced changes along the O2 transport pathway.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Long-duration spaceflight elicited a significant decrease in maximal oxygen uptake. Given the adverse physiological adaptations to microgravity along the O2 transport pathway that have been reported, an integrative approach to the determinants of postflight maximal oxygen uptake is needed. We demonstrate that both convective and diffusive oxygen transport are decreased following ~6 mo International Space Station missions.

First Report of Soybean Rust Caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi in North Carolina.

Asian soybean rust, caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow, has been known to occur in the eastern hemisphere for nearly a century. More recently, it was reported from South America in 2002 and the continental United States in Louisiana in November 2004 (1,2). Subsequently, P. pachyrhizi was confirmed in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Missouri, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee in 2004. Surveys conducted in North Carolina in late November 2004 failed to detect this pathogen. Symptoms of the disease were first observed on soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in North Carolina on 25 October 2005 in farmers' fields in the counties of Brunswick, Columbus, and Robeson. Typical pustules and urediniospores were readily apparent on infected leaves when viewed with a dissecting microscope. Urediniospores were obovoid to broadly ellipsoidal, hyaline to pale yellowish brown with a minutely echinulate thin wall, and measured 18 to 37 × 15 to 24 µm. This morphology is typical of soybean rust caused by P. pachyrhizi or P. meibomiae, the latter is a less aggressive species causing soybean rust in the western hemisphere (1). DNA was extracted from leaves containing sori using the Qiagen DNeasy Plant Mini kit (Valencia, CA). P. pachyrhizi was detected using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol that differentiates between P. pachyrhizi and P. meibomiae in a Cepheid thermocycler (Sunnyvale, CA) with appropriate positive and negative controls. The PCR master mix was modified to include OmniMix beads (Cepheid). Field diagnosis of P. pachyrhizi was confirmed by the USDA/APHIS on 28 October 2005. Soybean rust was identified in subsequent surveys of soybean fields and leaf samples submitted by North Carolina Cooperative Extension Agents in an additional 15 counties. These samples also were assayed using a traditional PCR protocol and by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protocol included in the EnviroLogix QualiPlate kit (Portland, ME) for soybean rust. Ten soybean specimens from 10 sites were confirmed positive by these methods. Disease was not found on three kudzu samples, although one kudzu sample was adjacent to a soybean field that was positive for P. pachyrhizi. Although soybean rust was eventually detected in 18 North Carolina counties in 2005, no soybean yield loss occurred since the pathogen was detected when more than 80% of the soybean crop was mature. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. pachyrhizi in North Carolina and the northern most find on soybean in the continental United States in 2005. References: (1) R. D. Frederick et al. Phytopathology 92:217, 2002. (2) R. W. Schneider et al. Plant Dis. 89:774 2005.

Comparing the effects of two in-flight aerobic exercise protocols on standing heart rates and VO(2peak) before and after space flight.

The effects of regular aerobic exercise on orthostatic tolerance have been the subject of a long-standing controversy that will influence the use of exercise during space flight. To examine these effects, astronauts performed continuous (CE) aerobic exercise (n = 8), interval (IE) aerobic exercise (n = 4), or no (NE) exercise (n = 5) during flights of 7 to 11 days. Heart rate (HR) responses to an orthostatic challenge (stand test) were measured 10 days before flight and on landing day. VO(2peak) (graded treadmill exercise) was measured 7 to 21 days before and 2 days after flight. No significant differences across the groups were observed in standing HRs before or after flight. However, the within-group mean HRs significantly increased in the NE (71-89 beats/min) and CE (60-85 beats/min) groups after space flight. The HRs for the IE group did not significantly increase (75-86 beats/min) after space flight. VO(2peak) decreased (P < .05) in the NE (-9.5%) group, but did not change in the CE (-2.4%) and IE (1%) groups. The relationship (r = 0.237) between the delta HR and delta VO(2peak) was not significant. These preliminary results indicate that: (1) continuous exercise does not affect the orthostatic HR response after space flight; (2) interval exercise may minimize an increase in the postflight orthostatic HR; and (3) both exercise protocols can maintain VO(2peak).

Maximal exercise as a countermeasure to orthostatic intolerance after spaceflight.

UNLABELLED: Previous investigators have suggested that maximal exercise performed 24 h before the end of bed rest, a spaceflight analog, restores prebed rest plasma volume, baroreflex responses, and orthostatic tolerance. PURPOSE: In this case report, we examined the effect of a similar exercise protocol 24 h before a Shuttle landing on the orthostatic responses of four crewmembers (EX) after spaceflights of 8-14 d. Four additional crewmembers (CON) served as controls and did not perform exercise during the final day of the flight. METHODS: Each crewmember performed a 10-min stand test approximately 10 d before launch (L-10) and within 1-2 h of landing (R+0). Cardiac stroke volume was measured (Doppler ultrasound) supine and during each min of standing for three EX and three CON subjects. RESULTS: Preflight, all crewmembers completed the stand test and each group had similar heart rate and blood pressure responses. Postflight, all subjects also completed the 10-min stand test. Each group had similarly elevated supine and standing heart rates, elevated diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures, and reduced pulse pressures compared to L-10. However, postflight cardiac output, mean +/- SEM, (EX: 4.5+/-0.6 L x min(-1); CON: 3.1+/-0.3 L x min(-1)) and stroke volume (EX: 43+/-7 mL x beat; CON: 30+/-6 mL x beat) were higher after 10 min standing in the EX subjects compared to CON subjects. CONCLUSIONS: For these four crewmembers, maximal exercise performed 24 h before landing may have helped maintain stroke volume but did not maintain heart rate and blood pressure responses during standing compared to preflight.

Determining blood and plasma volumes using bioelectrical response spectroscopy.

We hypothesized that an electric field (inductance) produced by charged blood components passing through the many branches of arteries and veins could assess total blood volume (TBV) or plasma volume (PV). Individual (N = 29) electrical circuits (inductors, two resistors, and a capacitor) were determined from bioelectrical response spectroscopy (BERS) using a Hewlett Packard 4284A Precision LCR Meter. Inductance, capacitance, and resistance from the circuits of 19 subjects modeled TBV (sum of PV and computed red cell volume) and PV (based on 125I-albumin). Each model (N = 10, cross validation group) had good validity based on 1) mean differences (-2.3 to 1.5%) between the methods that were not significant and less than the propagated errors (+/- 5.2% for TBV and PV), 2) high correlations (r > 0.92) with low SEE (< 7.7%) between dilution and BERS assessments, and 3) Bland-Altman pairwise comparisons that indicated "clinical equivalency" between the methods. Given the limitation of this study (10 validity subjects), we concluded that BERS models accurately assessed TBV and PV. Further evaluations of the models' validities are needed before they are used in clinical or research settings.

Inflight exercise affects stand test responses after space flight.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether exercise performed by Space Shuttle crew members during short-duration space flights (9-16 d) affects the heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) responses to standing within 2-4 h of landing. METHODS: Thirty crew members performed self-selected inflight exercise and maintained exercise logs to monitor their exercise intensity and duration. Two subjects participated in this investigation during two different flights. A 10-min stand test, preceded by at least 6 min of quiet supine rest, was completed 10-15 d before launch (PRE) and within 4 h of landing (POST). Based upon their inflight exercise records, subjects were grouped as either high (HIex: > or = 3 times/week, HR > or = 70% HRmax, > or = 20 min/session, N = 11), medium (MEDex: > or = 3 times/week, HR < 70% HRmax, > or = 20 min/session, N = 10), or low (LOex: < or = 3 times/week, HR and duration variable, N = 11) exercisers. HR and BP responses to standing were compared between groups (ANOVA, P < or = 0.05). RESULTS: There were no PRE differences between the groups in supine or standing HR and BP. Although POST supine HR was similar to PRE, all groups had an increased standing HR compared with PRE. The increase in HR upon standing was significantly greater after flight in the LOex group (36 +/- 5 bpm) compared with HIex or MEDex groups (25 +/- 1 bpm; 22 +/- 2 bpm). Similarly, the decrease in pulse pressure (PP) from supine to standing was unchanged after space flight in the MEDex and HIex groups but was significantly greater in the LOex group (PRE: -9 +/- 3; POST: -19 +/- 4 mm Hg). CONCLUSIONS: Thus, moderate to high levels of inflight exercise attenuated HR and PP responses to standing after space flight.

Alternatives to the Glasgow Coma Scale as a quality of life predictor following traumatic brain injury.

Conventional "staging " of traumatic brain injury (TBI) typically uses depth of coma assessed by the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score near admission as a severity marker. Frequently, early GCS scores are contaminated by alcohol or drug ingestion and other, nonneurological organ system trauma. As well, this measure's usefulness is limited due to its restricted range in survivors. Here we explore the utility of using length of posttraumatic amnesia, coma duration, and age as indirect markers of severity. Cluster analytic techniques were used to examine the relationship of severity so defined to long-term outcome in 106 mild, moderate, and severe TBI patients. Results indicate complex relationships between cluster groups with the influence of age of patient being highlighted as an important moderator in determining severity of injury and later psychosocial outcome.

Coping patterns associated with long-term outcome from traumatic brain injury among female survivors.

In this study, we investigated the relationship between coping strategy and long-term outcome from traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a sample of 72 female TBI patients an average of five years post-injury. Using cluster analytic techniques based on two subscale sets from the Ways of Coping Questionnaire-Revised (WOC-R), we derived clinically relevant cluster groups based on coping strategy and validated the groups on demographic, injury-related, and quality of life measures. Results suggested that coping strategies characterized by low overall coping and positive reappraisal were associated with relatively good outcome, while those characterized by high overall coping and a combination of self-blame and escape avoidance were associated with relatively poorer outcome. These results are similar to those obtained with male samples, but societally linked gender stereotypes may contribute to unique coping and restriction of coping strategy for female TBI patients.

Carbon dioxide accumulation, walking performance, and metabolic cost in the NASA launch and entry suit.

BACKGROUND: In the event of an emergency on landing, Space Shuttle crewmembers while wearing the Launch and Entry Suit (LES) must stand, move to the hatch, exit the spacecraft with the helmet visor closed breathing 100% O2, and walk or run unassisted to a distance of 380 m upwind from the vehicle. The purpose of this study was to characterize the inspired CO2 and metabolic requirements during a simulated unaided egress from the Space Shuttle in healthy subjects wearing the LES. METHODS: As a simulation of a Shuttle landing with an unaided egress, 12 male subjects completed a 6-min seated pre-breathe with 100% O2 followed by a 2-min stand and 5-min walking at 1.56 m x s(-1) (5.6 km x h(-1), 3.5 mph) with the helmet visor closed. During walks with four different G-suit pressures (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 psi; 3.4, 6.9, 10.3 kPa), inspired CO2 and walking time were measured. After a 10-min seated recovery, subjects repeated the 5-min walk with the same G-suit pressure and the helmet visor open for the measurement of metabolic rate (VO2). RESULTS: When G-suit inflation levels were 1.0 or 1.5 psi, only one-third of our subjects were able to complete the 5-min visor-closed walk after a 6-min pre-breathe. Inspired CO2 levels measured at the mouth were routinely greater than 4% (30 mmHg) during walking. The metabolic cost at the 1.5 psi G-suit inflation was over 135% of the metabolic cost at 0.0 psi inflation. CONCLUSION: During unaided egress, G-suit inflation pressures of 1.0 and 1.5 psi resulted in elevated CO2 in the LES helmet and increased metabolic cost of walking, both of which may impact unaided egress performance. Neither the LES, the LES helmet, nor the G-suit were designed for ambulation. Data from this investigation suggests that adapting flight equipment for uses other than those for which it was originally designed can result in unforeseen problems.

Coping and emotional attributions following spinal cord injury.

Ways of Coping Checklist-Revised protocols gathered from 35 persons with spinal cord injuries on admission to an in-patient rehabilitation unit were cluster analysed using Ward's method. A two-cluster solution was produced reflecting patterns of coping similar to Lazarus und Folkman's (1984) emotion- and problem-focused dichotomy. These patterns of coping were validated against sets of demographic/medical and emotional adjustment/attribution variables gathered on discharge. Results showed that a group of subjects using emotion-focused coping styles reported greater ratings of depression. These subjects focused less on physical and therapy progress to promote positive feelings and focused more on thoughts about the accident. There was also a trend for physical setbacks to contribute to negative mood in these patients. This pattern was associated with having been readmitted to hospital. The clinical and research implications of the study are discussed.

Does bed rest produce changes in orthostatic function comparable to those induced by space flight?

Use of bed rest to simulate microgravity exposure is not well validated. We compared heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) responses to standing in bed-rest (BR) subjects (n=11) to those of two astronaut groups. One astronaut group (n=28) fluid loaded (FL) before landing by consuming a water and salt tablet mixture, the second astronaut group (n=8) did not (NL). Bed-rest or microgravity exposure lasted approximately 7.0 days. Preexposure, the responses to standing did not differ between groups. Postexposure, all groups demonstrated an increased HR response (p<0.01), a decreased SBP response (p<0.05), no change in DBP response, and a reduced PP response (p<0.05) compared to preexposure. Change in HR response was lowest for the FL group, presumably due to increased plasma volume induced by fluid consumption. These findings generally support bed rest as a valid simulator of microgravity.

Dr. Zompo: an online data repository for Zostera marina and Posidonia oceanica ESTs.

As ecosystem engineers, seagrasses are angiosperms of paramount ecological importance in shallow shoreline habitats around the globe. Furthermore, the ancestors of independent seagrass lineages have secondarily returned into the sea in separate, independent evolutionary events. Thus, understanding the molecular adaptation of this clade not only makes significant contributions to the field of ecology, but also to principles of parallel evolution as well. With the use of Dr. Zompo, the first interactive seagrass sequence database presented here, new insights into the molecular adaptation of marine environments can be inferred. The database is based on a total of 14 597 ESTs obtained from two seagrass species, Zostera marina and Posidonia oceanica, which have been processed, assembled and comprehensively annotated. Dr. Zompo provides experimentalists with a broad foundation to build experiments and consider challenges associated with the investigation of this class of non-domesticated monocotyledon systems. Our database, based on the Ruby on Rails framework, is rich in features including the retrieval of experimentally determined heat-responsive transcripts, mining for molecular markers (SSRs and SNPs), and weighted key word searches that allow access to annotation gathered on several levels including Pfam domains, GeneOntology and KEGG pathways. Well established plant genome sites such as The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR) and the Rice Genome Annotation Project are interfaced by Dr. Zompo. With this project, we have initialized a valuable resource for plant biologists in general and the seagrass community in particular. The database is expected to grow together with more data to come in the near future, particularly with the recent initiation of the Zostera genome sequencing project.The Dr. Zompo database is available at http://drzompo.uni-muenster.de/

Owning genetic information and gene enhancement techniques: why privacy and property rights may undermine social control of the human genome.

In this article I argue that the proper subjects of intangible property claims include medical records, genetic profiles, and gene enhancement techniques. Coupled with a right to privacy these intangible property rights allow individuals a zone of control that will, in most cases, justifiably exclude governmental or societal invasions into private domains. I argue that the threshold for overriding privacy rights and intangible property rights is higher, in relation to genetic enhancement techniques and sensitive personal information, than is commonly suggested. Once the bar is raised, so-to-speak, the burden of overriding it is formidable. Thus many policy decisions that have been recently proposed or enacted--citywide audio and video surveillance, law enforcement DNA sweeps, genetic profiling, national bans on genetic testing and enhancement of humans, to name a few--will have to be backed by very strong arguments.

Coping strategies and locus of control following traumatic brain injury: relationship to long-term outcome.

Cluster-analytic techniques were used to categorize coping strategies (CS) measured by the Ways of Coping--Revised Scale, and locus of control (LOC) beliefs measured by the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale in 53 male traumatically brain-injured (TBI) persons. A cluster characterized by comparatively higher use of self-controlling and positive reappraisal CS and lower external LOC was associated with significantly lower mood disturbance and physical difficulties and a trend to be less depressed. The age of the neurologically injured patient and Taylor's (1983) cognitive adaptation theory may be important aspects of recovery from TBI and other neurological conditions.