Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andreas Hammer, Geraldine Cerretti, Dario A. Ricciardi, David Schiffmann, Simon Maranda, Raphael Kummer, Christoph Zumbuehl, Karin F. Rattenbacher-Kiser, Silvan von Arx, Sebastian Ammann, Frederic Strobl, Rayene Berkane, Alexandra Stolz, Ernst H. K. Stelzer, Marcel Egli, Enrico Schleiff, Simon L. Wuest, Maik Boehmer
Summary: Calcium elevation plays an important role as a secondary messenger in cellular processes, but conducting experiments in microgravity poses challenges such as limited time and potential experimental artifacts. In this study, researchers introduced a new experimental setup based on CaMPARI2 reporter, onboard LED arrays, and subsequent microscopic analysis on the ground, which enables higher throughput and accuracy. Using this setup, they successfully observed a strong calcium response triggered by histamine in human chondrocytes during a parabolic flight campaign conducted by ESA, and the response was not affected by the alternating gravitational load.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dominique Moser, Katharina Biere, Christian Liemersdorf, Marina Tuschen, Ruth Hemmersbach, Alexander Chouker
Summary: Microgravity is a major stressor in space that affects immune cell function. Hypergravity has been shown to have beneficial effects on the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular system. This study investigated whether mild mechanical loading could prevent immune dysregulation caused by microgravity.
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Oliver Ullrich, Christian Paul Casal, Natalie Dove, Calista Fischer, Max Gassmann, Martin Daniel Gerber, Rudolf Guldener, Liliana Elisabeth Layer, Bruno Neininger, Silvia Ulrich, Marc Studer, Cora Sandra Thiel
Summary: This article describes a successful non-governmental parabolic flight program, which achieved 31 experiments and tests through the flexible combination of academic research and industrial experiments, resulting in many scientific publications and subsequent projects.
Article
Thermodynamics
Leon P. M. Brendel, Stephen L. Caskey, Michael K. Ewert, Frank Kwok Lee, James E. Braun, Eckhard A. Groll
Summary: This research experimentally investigated the effects of hyper and microgravity on a vapor compression cycle during parabolic flights. The results showed that the cycle operation was mildly affected by the varying g-forces, and most measurements and performance indicators remained within normal range. A loss of superheat was observed in one set of parabolas due to gravity changes, but other sets maintained normal operation of superheat and subcooling.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REFRIGERATION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Noriyuki Kuya, Ryo Nishijima, Yuka Kitomi, Taiji Kawakatsu, Yusaku Uga
Summary: Root system architecture affects the efficient uptake of water and nutrients in plants. In this study, the mechanism of root gravitropism in rice was investigated using a simulated microgravity condition. The transcriptome analysis revealed that HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN (HSP) genes, involved in auxin transport regulation, were up-regulated under simulated microgravity and down-regulated by gravistimulation. The study also identified a potential gene regulatory network involving HEAT STRESS TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR A2s (HSFA2s) and HSFB2s in modulating the gravitropic response through transcriptional control of HSPs in rice roots.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Leon P. M. Brendel, Stephen L. Caskey, James E. Braun, Eckhard A. Groll
Summary: This paper presents experimental results on a vapor compression cycle in microgravity scenario. The study shows that gravity has an impact on the condenser and evaporator, leading to changes in flow patterns and an increase in discharge pressure. Oscillations were also observed in the evaporator under certain conditions. The cycle's response to varying gravity can be classified into four groups based on cooling capacity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF REFRIGERATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Herbert Schulz, Dorothea Dietrichs, Markus Wehland, Thomas J. Corydon, Ruth Hemmersbach, Christian Liemersdorf, Daniela Melnik, Norbert Huebner, Kathrin Saar, Manfred Infanger, Daniela Grimm
Summary: This study conducted a parabolic flight experiment in real microgravity and analyzed metastatic prostate cancer cells, discovering a network of cytokines, chemokines, regulatory lncRNA, and microRNA related to prostate cancer. These findings contribute to a better understanding of prostate cancer and potential development of new diagnostic tools.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Mechanics
Leon P. M. Brendel, Justin A. Weibel, James E. Braun, Eckhard A. Groll
Summary: Research on two-phase channel flow in microgravity focuses on flow regimes, pressure drop, and heat transfer during evaporation and condensation. This paper compares previous experiments with recent vapor compression cycle tests and shows confirmed results regarding flow patterns and reduced condensation heat transfer in microgravity. However, there is no consensus on the effects of microgravity on evaporation heat transfer and friction factors. The experiments also reveal that the dependence of the vapor compression cycle on orientation changes is influenced by the mass fluxes and can be mitigated by increasing flow inertia.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIPHASE FLOW
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Maurizio Iovane, Luigi Gennaro Izzo, Leone Ermes Romano, Giovanna Aronne
Summary: Long-term space missions require viable seeds for plant cultivation under altered gravity conditions. This study found that simulated microgravity significantly increased pollen tube length and tortuosity, which can interfere with plant reproduction. These findings provide a basis for further research on the effects of real microgravity on plant reproduction and developing countermeasures.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Janet Mansour, Carolin Berwanger, Marcel Jung, Ludwig Eichinger, Ben Fabry, Christoph S. Clemen
Summary: In ground-based cell biological research, a clinostat is commonly used to simulate a assumed microgravity environment. However, we found that fast clinorotation induces complex fluid motions in cell culture vessels, triggering unintended cellular responses. Therefore, cell biological results from fast clinorotation cannot be attributed to microgravity without rigorous testing and alternative explanations. Two control experiments, a static non-rotating control and a control for fluid motion, are necessary for accurate interpretation. Strategies to minimize fluid motion in clinorotation experiments are also discussed.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Liu Zi Fan, Wang Hai Ming, Jiang Min, Wang Lin, Lin Le Jian, Zhao Yun Zhang, Shao Jun Jie, Zhou Jing Jing, Xie Man Jiang, Li Xin, Zhang Ran
Summary: The study reveals that mitochondrial oxidative stress enhances cerebral vasoconstriction by regulating calcium homeostasis in hindlimb unweighted rat cerebral arteries during simulated microgravity. The increase of mitochondrial fission and decrease of fusion lead to exacerbated vascular contractile responses, with alterations in K+ channel currents and open probabilities.
BIOMEDICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Simon L. Wuest, Geraldine Cerretti, Jennifer Louise Wadsworth, Cindy Follonier, Karin F. Rattenbacher-Kiser, Timothy Bradley, Marcel Egli, Fabian Ille
Summary: Chondrocytes are responsible for cartilaginous matrix synthesis, maintenance, and degradation in articular cartilage. While it is believed that these cells require mechanical stimuli for adequate cartilage homeostasis, experiments showed that cytosolic free calcium and membrane potential of chondrocytes remained unchanged in response to short periods of altered gravity, indicating that these specific cellular responses may not be gravity-dependent. Additionally, careful data analysis revealed limitations when using a commercial plate reader during a parabolic flight.
Article
Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications
Ritu Agarwal, Kritika, Sunil Dutt Purohit
Summary: The study focuses on the variation of cellular calcium concentration with different buffers, considering the advection-diffusion equation for cellular calcium. Buffers play a key role in binding with intracellular free calcium ions, lowering the concentration level of cytosolic calcium and preventing its toxicity within the cell. The model incorporates association and dissociation rates, diffusion coefficients, and buffer concentration, with a fractional model developed using the Caputo-Fabrizio operator.
CHAOS SOLITONS & FRACTALS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Cristian Silviu Moldovan, Anca Onaciu, Valentin Toma, Radu Marginean, Alin Moldovan, Adrian Bogdan Tigu, Gabriela Fabiola Stiufiuc, Constantin Mihai Lucaciu, Rares Ionut Stiufiuc
Summary: A method using carbon quantum dots smaller than 5 nm synthesized from sodium citrate and polyethylene imine was successfully employed to detect the release of Cyt c. Significant drops in fluorescence intensity were observed in cells treated with apoptosis-inducing therapeutic compounds, confirming the release of Cyt c from mitochondria to cytosol. This method could potentially contribute to an indirect in vitro evaluation of apoptosis.
Article
Mathematics
Mingzhu Sun, Yingchen Li, Wei Yao
Summary: The model predicts that Mt and mu d compartments can reduce the amplitude of [Ca2+](Cyt) oscillations, and cause the ER to release less Ca2+ during oscillations; with increasing cytosolic IP3 concentration, the amplitude of oscillations increases but the frequency decreases; the frequency of [Ca2+](Cyt) oscillations decreases as the ER-Mt distance increases.
Review
Biophysics
Florian P. M. Kohn, Ramona Ritzmann
EUROPEAN BIOPHYSICS JOURNAL WITH BIOPHYSICS LETTERS
(2018)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Sebastian M. Strauch, Ina Becker, Laura Poelloth, Peter R. Richter, Ferdinand W. M. Haag, Jens Hauslage, Michael Lebert
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ASTROBIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Florian Kohn, Jens Hauslage, Wolfgang Hanke
MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jens Hauslage, Volkan Cevik, Ruth Hemmersbach
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Lars Krause, Markus Braun, Jens Hauslage, Ruth Hemmersbach
MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Jens Hauslage, Sebastian M. Strauch, Olaf Essmann, Ferdinand W. M. Haag, Peter Richter, Julia Krueger, Julia Stoltze, Ina Becker, Adeel Nasir, Gerhild Bornemann, Hartmut Mueller, Toni Delovski, Thomas Berger, Aleksandra Rutczynska, Karel Marsalek, Michael Lebert
MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Engineering, Aerospace
Sonja Brungs, Jens Hauslage, Ruth Hemmersbach
MICROGRAVITY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Florian P. M. Kohn, Jens Hauslage
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
T. Berger, K. Marsalek, J. Aeckerlein, J. Hauslage, D. Matthiae, B. Przybyla, M. Rohde, M. Wirtz
REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS
(2019)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
Christian Liemersdorf, Yannick Lichterfeld, Ruth Hemmersbach, Jens Hauslage
REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Dmitrii Shadrin, Alexander Menshchikov, Andrey Somov, Gerhild Bornemann, Jens Hauslage, Maxim Fedorov
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT
(2020)
Article
Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Applications
Johann Bauer, Erich Gombocz, Herbert Schulz, Jens Hauslage, Daniela Grimm
Summary: Changes in gravity affect cell adhesion and organoid formation capabilities. BCAR1 plays a significant role in cell responses to gravity changes, with force-dependent phosphorylation and scaffolding influencing intracellular protein structure and function.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Ina Becker, Sebastian M. Strauch, Jens Hauslage, Michael Lebert
LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH
(2017)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Gerhild Bornemann, Kai Wasser, Jens Hauslage
LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH
(2018)