Astronauts are at risk of losing 1.0% to 1.5% of their bone mass for every month they spend in space despite their adherence to diets and exercise regimens designed to protect their musculoskeletal systems. This loss is the result of microgravity-related impairment of osteocyte and osteoblast function and the consequent upregulation of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. This review describes the ontogeny of osteoclast hematopoietic stem cells and the contributions macrophage colony stimulating factor, receptor activator of the nuclear factor-kappa B ligand, and the calcineurin pathways make in osteoclast differentiation and provides details of bone formation, the osteoclast cytoskeleton, the immune regulation of osteoclasts, and osteoclast mechanotransduction on Earth, in space, and under conditions of simulated microgravity. The article discusses the need to better understand how osteoclasts are able to function in zero gravity and reviews current and prospective therapies that may be used to treat osteoclast-mediated bone disease.

Groundwater-level measurements in monitoring wells or piezometers are the most common, and often the only, hydrologic measurements made at artificial recharge facilities. Measurements of gravity change over time provide an additional source of information about changes in groundwater storage, infiltration, and for model calibration. We demonstrate that for an artificial recharge facility with a deep groundwater table, gravity data are more sensitive to movement of water through the unsaturated zone than are groundwater levels. Groundwater levels have a delayed response to infiltration, change in a similar manner at many potential monitoring locations, and are heavily influenced by high-frequency noise induced by pumping; in contrast, gravity changes start immediately at the onset of infiltration and are sensitive to water in the unsaturated zone. Continuous gravity data can determine infiltration rate, and the estimate is only minimally affected by uncertainty in water-content change. Gravity data are also useful for constraining parameters in a coupled groundwater-unsaturated zone model (Modflow-NWT model with the Unsaturated Zone Flow (UZF) package).

abstract: The overall goal of this research project was to assess the feasibility of investigating the effects of microgravity on mineralization systems in unit gravity environments. If possible to perform these studies in unit gravity earth environments, such as earth, such systems can offer markedly less costly and more concerted research efforts to study these vitally important systems. Expected outcomes from easily accessible test environments and more tractable studies include the development of more advanced and adaptive material systems, including biological systems, particularly as humans ponder human exploration in deep space. The specific focus of the research was the design and development of a prototypical experimental test system that could preliminarily meet the challenging design specifications required of such test systems. Guided by a more unified theoretical foundation and building upon concept design and development heuristics, assessment of the feasibility of two experimental test systems was explored. Test System I was a rotating wall reactor experimental system that closely followed the specifications of a similar test system, Synthecon, designed by NASA contractors and thus closely mimicked microgravity conditions of the space shuttle and station. The latter includes terminal velocity conditions experienced by both innate material systems, as well as, biological systems, including living tissue and humans but has the ability to extend to include those material test systems associated with mineralization processes. Test System II is comprised of a unique vertical column design that offered more easily controlled fluid mechanical test conditions over a much wider flow regime that was necessary to achieving terminal velocities under free convection-less conditions that are important in mineralization processes. Preliminary results indicate that Test System II offers distinct advantages in studying microgravity effects in test systems operating in unit gravity environments and particularly when investigating mineralization and related processes. Verification of the Test System II was performed on validating microgravity effects on calcite mineralization processes reported earlier others. There studies were conducted on calcite mineralization in fixed-wing, reduced gravity aircraft, known as the `vomit comet' where reduced gravity conditions are include for very short (~20second) time periods. Preliminary results indicate that test systems, such as test system II, can be devised to assess microgravity conditions in unit gravity environments, such as earth. Furthermore, the preliminary data obtained on calcite formation suggest that strictly physicochemical mechanisms may be the dominant factors that control adaptation in materials processes, a theory first proposed by Liu et al. Thus the result of this study may also help shine a light on the problem of early osteoporosis in astronauts and long term interest in deep space exploration. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Bioengineering 2013

Submitted by Cátia Araújo (catia.araujo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2017-09-29T13:05:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Mariovane Sabino Donini - 2017.pdf: 4347435 bytes, checksum: b83edb6c2d0b7868757722dc435be9fa (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marlucy Farias Medeiros (marlucy.farias@unipampa.edu.br) on 2017-09-29T16:25:43Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Mariovane Sabino Donini - 2017.pdf: 4347435 bytes, checksum: b83edb6c2d0b7868757722dc435be9fa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-29T16:25:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mariovane Sabino Donini - 2017.pdf: 4347435 bytes, checksum: b83edb6c2d0b7868757722dc435be9fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / In the present work, vaporization and combustion of an isolated fuel droplet at diferente ambient temperatures are examined numerically in order to analyze the effect of buoyancy force on the flame. Generally, fuel droplets in combustion devices are so small that the influence of buoyancy force on vaporization and combustion of droplets is negligible. On the other hand, fuel droplets in experimental devices are affected by the buoyancy force due to their diameters being around or more than 1 mm. To reduce the buoyancy effects, expensive experimental studies are performed in microgravity ambient (drop-tower or out of space). In normal-gravity conditions, the buoyancy force is induced by temperature gradient on ambient atmosphere. The buoyancy is positive in regions of hot gases and negative in regions of cold gases compared with the ambient atmosphere gas. Hot gases move upward and cold gases downward. Playing with the positive buoyancy force of hot gases around the flame and with the negative (cold) buoyancy force of cold gases around the droplet via ambient atmosphere temperature, it is possible to modify the flame shape. In the numerical simulations, incompressible Navier–Stokes equations along with mixture fraction and excess enthalpy conservation equations are solved using a finite volume technique with a uniform structured grid. An artificial compressibility method was applied to reach steady state solutions. The numerical predictions have been compared with analytical results for a zero gravity condition, showing good agreement. For normal gravity condition the numerical results showed that when the ambient temperature increases, the velocity gradient and buoyancy source term decreases. Despite that, the flame increased in all directions. The results have also shown that increasing the ambient temperature, decreases the temperature gradient in the flame, which ends up affecting the flame position. / No presente trabalho, a vaporização e a combustão de uma gota de combustível isolada a diferentes temperaturas ambiente são examinadas numericamente para analisar o efeito da força de flutuação na chama. Geralmente, as gotículas de combustível em dispositivos de combustão são tão pequenas que a influência da força de flutuação na vaporização e na combustão de gotículas é insignificante. Por outro lado, as gotículas de combustível em dispositivos experimentais são afetadas pela força de flutuabilidade devido ao seu diâmetro em torno de ou mais de 1 mm. Para reduzir os efeitos de flutuabilidade, estudos experimentais caros são realizados em ambiente de microgravidade (drop-tower ou fora do espaço). Em condições de gravidade normal, a força de flutuação é induzida por gradiente de temperatura na atmosfera ambiente. A flutuabilidade é positiva em regiões de gases quentes e negativas em regiões de gases frios em comparação com o gás atmosférico ambiente. Os gases quentes movem-se para cima e os gases frios para baixo. Jogando com a força de flutuação positiva dos gases quentes ao redor da chama e com a força de flutuação negativa (fria) dos gases frios ao redor da gota através da temperatura da atmosfera ambiente, é possível modificar a forma da chama. Nas simulações numéricas, as equações de Navier-Stokes incompressíveis juntamente com a fração de mistura e as equações de conservação de entalpia em excesso são resolvidas usando uma técnica de volume finito com uma grade estruturada uniforme. Foi aplicado um método de compressibilidade artificial para alcançar soluções de estado estacionário. As previsões numéricas foram comparadas com resultados analíticos para uma condição de gravidade zero, mostrando boa concordância. Para a condição de gravidade normal, os resultados numéricos mostraram que, quando a temperatura ambiente aumenta, o gradiente de velocidade e o termo da fonte de flutuação diminuem. Apesar disso, a chama aumentou em todas as direções. Os resultados também mostraram que aumentar a temperatura ambiente, diminui o gradiente de temperatura na chama, o que acaba afetando a posição da chama.

Current commonly use viscosity measurement techniques cannot be used for all types of fluids. For fluids in the under cooled region a new method of measuring the viscosity is required. A process of viscosity measurement, by measuring the speed of droplet coalescence in a microgravity environment, was developed. This paper analyses validation experiments performed on the International Space Station. Four experiments were analyzed. Two of the experiments provided results consistent with the known value for the viscosity. One of the experiments did not provide sufficient data for analysis. The final experiment had possible errors due to the experimental setup. The resulting data from these experiments demonstrated that the method is feasible. However, more experiments are needed to fully verify the process.

Knowledge of the two-phase flow state is fundamental for two-phase flow system design and operation. In traditional two-phase flow studies, the flow regime refers to the physical location of the gas and liquid in a conduit. Flow configuration is important for engineering correlations of heat and mass transfer, pressure drop, and wall shear. However, it is somewhat subjective since it is mostly defined by experimental observation, resulting in an approximate and equivocal definition. Thus, there is need for a better, objective flow regime identification. The void fraction is a key parameter in monitoring the operating state of a two-phase system and several tools have been developed in order to measure it. The purpose of this study is to use the void fraction and other parameters of the system to achieve a model for flow pattern identification. Recently, an experimental program using the Foster-Miller two-phase flow test bed and Creare Inc. capacitance void fraction sensors was conducted in the microgravity environment of the NASA KC-135 aircraft. Several data types were taken for each phase, such as flow rate, superficial velocity, density and transient void fraction at 100Hz. Several analytical approaches were pursued, including a statistical approach of the fluctuation of the void fraction, Martinelli analysis, and Drift Flux analysis, in order to reach a model for flow pattern identification in microgravity conditions. Several parameters were found to be good flow pattern identifiers such as the statistical moments variance and skewness, Signal -to- noise ratio (SNR), Half Height Value (HHV) and Linear Area Difference (LAD). Moreover, relevant conclusions were achieved using the Martinelli parameter and the Drift Flux model in microgravity conditions. These results were compared with the basic literature.

Probiotics can influence intestinal responses and mucosal immunity either directly or indirectly through transient modulation of the endogenous microenvironment or the immune system. During space travel, astronauts experience various physiological stresses including putting them at risk for infections or inappropriate immune responses. Macrophages and monocytes are a key cell type involved in innate immunity. The effects of dairy milk or soy milk base fermented with S. thermophilus ST5 in combination with either B. longum R0175 or L. helveticus R0052 on the cell line U937 and all-trans retinoic acid differentiated U937 were examined under normal gravity and simulated microgravity conditions, in order to screen for effects on monocytes and macrophages. Soy and milk ferments demonstrated the ability to modulate certain aspects of the innate immune system, both in normal gravity and in simulated microgravity. These probiotics affected U937 cells differently depending on differentiation stage (monocyte or macrophage) and whether or not the cells were tested in regular gravity or in simulated microgravity conditions. These results provide insight into effects on this aspect of innate immunity and may provide guidelines to potential in vivo administration. / UOIT

Annular flow is an important flow regime in many industrial applications. The need for a better understanding of this flow regime is driven by the desire to improve the design of many terrestrial and space-based systems. Annular two-phase flow is frequently present in the drilling, production and transportation of oil and natural gas, boilers and condensers, and in heating and refrigeration systems. The flow regime is also important for the refueling of space vehicles, and heating and refrigeration systems for space use. Past studies on annular flow have dealt with varying the gas or liquid Reynolds numbers and studying the effect of such changes on the flow regimes and pressure drops. The effect of two other relevant dimensionless groups, namely the gas-to-liquid density ratio and the gas-to-liquid viscosity ratio, on the film characteristics are noticeably absent. As well, with the increased interest in the space environment, studies on the effect of the gravitational acceleration on two-phase flow would be beneficial. The effect of the gas density and the gravitational acceleration on the annular flow average film thickness and frictional pressure drop are examined. The film thickness was measured using two-wire conductance probes. Experimental data were collected in microgravity and hypergravity aboard the Novespace Zero-G Airbus microgravity simulator and normal gravity data were collected at the University of Saskatchewan. Data were collected for a range of annular flow set points by changing the liquid and gas mass flow rates. The liquid-to-gas density ratio was examined by collecting annular flow data using helium-water and air-water. The gravitational effect on the film thickness characteristics was examined by collecting the data during the microgravity and pull-up (hypergravity) portions of each parabolic flight. A direct comparison is possible between the normal gravity data and the microgravity data, due to the matching of the liquid and gas mass flow rates and the flow regime. The reduction in gravity causes the average film thickness to increase between two and four times from the normal gravity values. The microgravity average frictional pressure drop is within approximately 20% of the normal gravity pressure drop for the same flow conditions. For all gravity levels, the air-water and the helium-water flows give similar results, for both average film thickness and frictional pressure drop, when based on the specific energy of the gas. The hypergravity average film thickness results are larger than at normal gravity for the same flow conditions. However, no flow regime map exists for the hypergravity condition, so the similarity of the flow regime cannot be confirmed. The hypergravity flow appears more chaotic, and may be in the transition from a churn type flow. The average frictional pressure drop is increased by approximately 20% due to the increase in the gravitational acceleration. New non-dimensional equations, which include the effect of the gas density, are presented for each gravity level to predict the average film thickness and the average frictional pressure drop.

Annular flow is an important flow regime in many industrial applications. The need for a better understanding of this flow regime is driven by the desire to improve the design of many terrestrial and space-based systems. Annular two-phase flow is frequently present in the drilling, production and transportation of oil and natural gas, boilers and condensers, and in heating and refrigeration systems. The flow regime is also important for the refueling of space vehicles, and heating and refrigeration systems for space use. Past studies on annular flow have dealt with varying the gas or liquid Reynolds numbers and studying the effect of such changes on the flow regimes and pressure drops. The effect of two other relevant dimensionless groups, namely the gas-to-liquid density ratio and the gas-to-liquid viscosity ratio, on the film characteristics are noticeably absent. As well, with the increased interest in the space environment, studies on the effect of the gravitational acceleration on two-phase flow would be beneficial. The effect of the gas density and the gravitational acceleration on the annular flow average film thickness and frictional pressure drop are examined. The film thickness was measured using two-wire conductance probes. Experimental data were collected in microgravity and hypergravity aboard the Novespace Zero-G Airbus microgravity simulator and normal gravity data were collected at the University of Saskatchewan. Data were collected for a range of annular flow set points by changing the liquid and gas mass flow rates. The liquid-to-gas density ratio was examined by collecting annular flow data using helium-water and air-water. The gravitational effect on the film thickness characteristics was examined by collecting the data during the microgravity and pull-up (hypergravity) portions of each parabolic flight. A direct comparison is possible between the normal gravity data and the microgravity data, due to the matching of the liquid and gas mass flow rates and the flow regime. The reduction in gravity causes the average film thickness to increase between two and four times from the normal gravity values. The microgravity average frictional pressure drop is within approximately 20% of the normal gravity pressure drop for the same flow conditions. For all gravity levels, the air-water and the helium-water flows give similar results, for both average film thickness and frictional pressure drop, when based on the specific energy of the gas. The hypergravity average film thickness results are larger than at normal gravity for the same flow conditions. However, no flow regime map exists for the hypergravity condition, so the similarity of the flow regime cannot be confirmed. The hypergravity flow appears more chaotic, and may be in the transition from a churn type flow. The average frictional pressure drop is increased by approximately 20% due to the increase in the gravitational acceleration. New non-dimensional equations, which include the effect of the gas density, are presented for each gravity level to predict the average film thickness and the average frictional pressure drop.

Knowledge of the two-phase flow state is fundamental for two-phase flow system design and operation. In traditional two-phase flow studies, the flow regime refers to the physical location of the gas and liquid in a conduit. Flow configuration is important for engineering correlations of heat and mass transfer, pressure drop, and wall shear. However, it is somewhat subjective since it is mostly defined by experimental observation, resulting in an approximate and equivocal definition. Thus, there is need for a better, objective flow regime identification. The void fraction is a key parameter in monitoring the operating state of a two-phase system and several tools have been developed in order to measure it. The purpose of this study is to use the void fraction and other parameters of the system to achieve a model for flow pattern identification. Recently, an experimental program using the Foster-Miller two-phase flow test bed and Creare Inc. capacitance void fraction sensors was conducted in the microgravity environment of the NASA KC-135 aircraft. Several data types were taken for each phase, such as flow rate, superficial velocity, density and transient void fraction at 100Hz. Several analytical approaches were pursued, including a statistical approach of the fluctuation of the void fraction, Martinelli analysis, and Drift Flux analysis, in order to reach a model for flow pattern identification in microgravity conditions. Several parameters were found to be good flow pattern identifiers such as the statistical moments variance and skewness, Signal -to- noise ratio (SNR), Half Height Value (HHV) and Linear Area Difference (LAD). Moreover, relevant conclusions were achieved using the Martinelli parameter and the Drift Flux model in microgravity conditions. These results were compared with the basic literature.