Long-duration spaceflight impacts human physiology, including well documented immune system dysregulation. The space food system has the potential to serve as a countermeasure to maladaptive ...physiological changes during spaceflight. However, the relationship between dietary requirements, the food system, and spaceflight adaptation requires further investigation to adequately define countermeasures and prioritize resources on future spaceflight missions. We evaluated the impact of an enhanced spaceflight diet, with increased quantity and variety of fruits, vegetables, fish, and other foods rich in flavonoids and omega-3 fatty acids, compared to a standard spaceflight diet on multiple health and performance outcomes in 16 subjects over four 45-day closed chamber missions in the NASA Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA). Subjects consuming the enhanced spaceflight diet had lower cholesterol levels, lower stress (i.e. cortisol levels), better cognitive speed, accuracy, and attention, and a more stable microbiome and metatranscriptome than subjects consuming the standard diet. Although no substantial changes were observed in the immune response, there were also no immune challenges, such as illness or infection, so the full benefits of the diet may not have been apparent in these analog missions. These results indicate that a spaceflight diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids produces significant health and performance benefits even over short durations. Further investigation is required to fully develop dietary countermeasures to physiological decrements observed during spaceflight. These results will have implications for food resource prioritization on spaceflight missions.
The ability of interferons (IFN) to exert a systemic effect following their oral administration was evaluated. One systemic effect of parenteral interferon administration has been shown to be a ...suppression of the number of peripheral white blood cells both in man and in mouse models. Using the mouse model of peripheral white blood cell suppression, the relative systemic effects of orally and subcutaneously administered interferons were determined. Murine IFN-beta, murine IFN-gamma and cross-reactive recombinant human IFN-alpha A/D were examined. The oral administrations of each of the three interferons were found to cause a dose-dependent suppression of the peripheral white blood cell counts. Significant levels of suppression were seen with as little as 5 units/day of murine IFN-beta and with 500 units/day of recombinant human IFN-alpha A/D and murine IFN-gamma. The dose-response curves obtained with orally administered interferons were much more shallow than those obtained with subcutaneously administered interferons. The results demonstrate that oral administration of interferons can provide a significant systemic effect. Further, the results support the possibility that the oral administration of interferons may have therapeutic potential.
Accurately interpreting the functional significance of variation in hand morphology has been central to discussions of the evolution of in hominoids, especially humans. Although there is an extensive ...literature on bony morphology, muscle size and strength, kinematics, and use of the hand, to date it has not been possible to visualize and quantify the mechanics of the of the hand in situ.
This study compared the intrinsic hand muscles of Homo sapiens and Pan troglodytes in 3D. Each specimen was fixed, stained with Lugol’s iodine, and microCT scanned <61 µm resolution. Bones, muscles and the flexor retinaculum were segmented using Avizo. Avizo Xfiber was used to visualize and quantify fascicle orientation within muscles, which permits quantification of both whole muscle and within muscle fascicle orientations. Fascicle length, pennation angles and muscle volume were used to calculate PCSA and estimate force output of each muscle. Together, these data are used to compare functional capability of muscles individually and in aggregate.
Data reveal differences in force‐generating capacity and force orientations of muscles, and with finer‐scale variation of within‐muscle fascicle orientations. The most significant differences were found in the adductor pollicis and opponens pollicis, which are larger and more transversely oriented in humans than in chimpanzees. Data also reveal differences in other thenar and hypothenar muscles, affecting the capacity to effect different grips.
Our approach and results highlight the importance of evaluating of the musculoskeletal system of the hand in 3D which can then be used to compare to bone form across hominoids.
Understanding the compatibility between spider silk and conducting materials is essential to advance the use of spider silk in electronic applications. Spider silk is tough, but becomes soft when ...exposed to water. Here we report a strong affinity of amine-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes for spider silk, with coating assisted by a water and mechanical shear method. The nanotubes adhere uniformly and bond to the silk fibre surface to produce tough, custom-shaped, flexible and electrically conducting fibres after drying and contraction. The conductivity of coated silk fibres is reversibly sensitive to strain and humidity, leading to proof-of-concept sensor and actuator demonstrations.
Since August, 2019, US public health officials have been investigating a national outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). A spectrum of histological patterns ...consistent with acute to subacute lung injury has been seen in biopsies; however, autopsy findings have not been systematically characterised. We describe the pathological findings in autopsy and biopsy tissues submitted to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the evaluation of suspected EVALI.
Between Aug 1, 2019, and Nov 30, 2019, we examined lung biopsy (n=10 individuals) and autopsy (n=13 individuals) tissue samples received by the CDC, submitted by 16 US states, from individuals with: a history of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use; respiratory, gastrointestinal, or constitutional symptoms; and either pulmonary infiltrates or opacities on chest imaging, or sudden death from an undetermined cause. We also reviewed medical records, evaluated histopathology, and performed infectious disease testing when indicated by histopathology and clinical history.
21 cases met surveillance case definitions for EVALI, with a further two cases of clinically suspected EVALI evaluated. All ten lung biopsies showed histological evidence of acute to subacute lung injury, including diffuse alveolar damage or organising pneumonia. These patterns were also seen in nine of 13 (69%) autopsy cases, most frequently diffuse alveolar damage (eight autopsies), but also acute and organising fibrinous pneumonia (one autopsy). Additional pulmonary pathology not necessarily consistent with EVALI was seen in the remaining autopsies, including bronchopneumonia, bronchoaspiration, and chronic interstitial lung disease. Three of the five autopsy cases with no evidence of, or a plausible alternative cause for acute lung injury, had been classified as confirmed or probable EVALI according to surveillance case definitions.
Acute to subacute lung injury patterns were seen in all ten biopsies and most autopsy lung tissues from individuals with suspected EVALI. Acute to subacute lung injury can have numerous causes; however, if it is identified in an individual with a history of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use, and no alternative cause is apparent, a diagnosis of EVALI should be strongly considered. A review of autopsy tissue pathology in suspected EVALI deaths can also identify alternative diagnoses, which can enhance the specificity of public health surveillance efforts.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
► We examine two waves of inward FDI: early movers and latecomers. ► Each group co-locates with earlier home-country entrants. ► Latecomers focus on local depth. ► Early movers shift from local depth ...to national breadth. ► Early movers are further along the same trajectory as latecomers.
Service firms such as banks and hotels typically locate multiple foreign affiliates in the same host country. Often, these location patterns occur in waves with early movers followed by latecomers; for example, the early entries of Japanese banks into the U.S. market in the 1970s and 1980s were followed by emerging-market Asian banks in the 1990s. Using insights from the agglomeration and organizational learning literatures, we argue that local density and experiential learning affect location choices within a host country, and that these relationships differ between early movers and latecomers. We test and find support for our arguments using a sample of Asian banks in the United States over 1997–2003.
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