Search Results (112)

(1) Background: Over the years, technology and space missions have advanced, although the development of potential functional food and food supplements must be improved for maintaining astronauts’ health and helping them overcome space-specific challenges during long missions. (2) Scope and approach: Using a review approach, this study aimed to investigate the potential of functional food to counteract radiation and microgravity spaceflight-related health problems. (3) Results: Microgravity and space radiation affect the body’s biochemical processes and increase levels of reactive oxygen species, which may lead to health problems, including musculoskeletal deconditioning, cardiovascular degeneration, disruptions in gastrointestinal health, ocular problems, alterations to the immune system, and hormonal imbalances, among others. In addition to medical care, functional food plays a key role as a countermeasure against space-induced physiological issues. Previous research showed that functional food rich in flavonoids, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidant compounds, proteins, probiotics, or prebiotics strengthens the immune system and reduces risks associated with long spaceflights, such as bone density loss, muscle atrophy, oxidative stress, and other health alterations. (4) Conclusions: Despite the fundamental role of functional food in spaceflights, the main challenges remain in preserving and packaging these foods to ensure their safety on long space missions. Future innovations include 3D food printing, space algae cultivation, and novel preservation technologies. Full article

Background: Irradiation-induced injury is a common fallout of radiological/nuclear accidents or therapeutic exposures to high doses of radiation at high dose rates. Currently, there are no prophylactic drugs available to mitigate radiation injury as a result of exposure to lethal doses of ionizing radiation. Gamma-tocotrienol (GT3) of vitamin E is a promising radioprotector under advanced development which has been tested for efficacy in both murine and nonhuman primate (NHP) models. Previously, we have demonstrated that GT3 has radioprotective efficacy in intestinal epithelial and crypt cells, and restores transcriptomic changes in NHPs with a supralethal dose of 12 Gy total-body irradiation (TBI). Methods: In this study, we evaluated the effect of 12 Gy partial-body irradiation (PBI) or TBI on metabolomic changes in serum samples and the extent to which GT3 was able to modulate these irradiation-induced changes. A total of 32 nonhuman primates were used for this study, and blood sample were collected 3 days (d) prior to irradiation, and 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 1 d, 2 d, and 6 d post-irradiation. Results: Our results demonstrate that exposure to a supralethal dose of radiation induces a complex range of metabolomic shifts with similar degrees of dysregulation in both partial- and total-body irradiated animals. The C21-steroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolism pathway was significantly dysregulated in both PBI and TBI groups, with minimal protection afforded by GT3 administration. Conclusions: GT3 offered a differential response in terms of protected metabolites and pathways in either group that was most effective at the early post-irradiation time points. Full article

Seeking to advance mutual clustering of the tourism economy and cultural industries while safeguarding cultural sustainability in tourism, this paper delves into the patterns of co-development and the contributing forces across spatial and temporal dimensions in the Yellow River Basin. Using a combined spatial and temporal analytical lens, along with spatial autocorrelation testing and a spatial Durbin model embedded in a synergetic systems approach, the present study analyzes the evolutionary characteristics of the spatiotemporal pattern of the collaborative agglomeration of the Yellow River Basin’s tourism and cultural industries in 2011 and 2021 and the internal mechanism of its influencing factors. We then propose countermeasures and suggestions to boost the quality–efficiency synergy agglomeration of the basin’s tourism and cultural industries. The results showed the following: ① From 2011 to 2021, a positive overall spatial autocorrelation was noted in the basin’s tourism and cultural industries. Temporally, it presented a variation trend of “rise–fall–rise”, and spatially, it presented a distribution characteristic of “higher in the central and eastern regions versus in its western parts”. ② From 2011 to 2021, the local spatial autocorrelation (LSA) of the basin’s tourism and cultural industries remained at a low level. Moreover, significant differences were noted in the LSA among different regions. In spatial terms, the clustering intensity of tourism and cultural industries was stronger in the central and eastern parts of the basin versus in its western parts. ③ Influencing variables for tourism–culture collaborative agglomeration across the basin involve both temporal superposition effects and spatial radiation driving effects. The industrial economy, policies, and innovation exert enduring effects on the development and cross-regional spillover outcomes of the two collaborative agglomerations. Serving as a theoretical reference and policy resource, this study addresses how to promote the quality–efficiency synergy in the Yellow River Basin’s tourism and cultural industries while enhancing cultural sustainability in the tourism industry. Moreover, it can also provide experiences and references for other similar regions. Full article

Spaceflight-associated dry eye syndrome (SADES) has been reported among astronauts during both International Space Station (ISS) and Space Transportation System (STS) missions. As future missions extend beyond low Earth orbit, the physiological challenges of spaceflight include microgravity, radiation, and environmental stressors, which may further exacerbate the development of ocular surface disease. A deeper understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, along with the exploration of innovative countermeasures, is critical. In this review, we examine nanomedicine as a promising countermeasure for managing ophthalmic conditions in space, with the goal of enhancing visual health and mission readiness for long-duration exploration-class missions. Full article

Weather patterns substantially influence extreme weathers in Japan. Extreme high temperature events can cause serious health problems, including heat stroke. Therefore, understanding weather patterns, along with their impacts on human health, is critically important for developing effective public health measures. This study examines the impact of weather patterns on heat stroke risk, focusing on a two-tiered high-pressure system (DH: double high) consisting of a lower tropospheric western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) and an overlapping upper tropospheric South Asian high (SAH), which is thought to cause high-temperature events in Japan. In this study, the self-organizing map technique was utilized to investigate the relationship between pressure patterns and the number of heat stroke patients in four populous cities. The study period covers July and August from 2008 to 2021. The results show that the average number of heat stroke patients in these cities is higher on DH days than on WPSH days in which SAH is absent. The probability of an extremely high daily number of heat stroke patients is more than twice as high on DH days compared to WPSH days. Notably, this result remains true even when WPSH and DH days are compared within the same air temperature range. This is attributable to the higher humidity and stronger solar radiation under DH conditions, which enhances the risk of heat stroke. Large-scale circulation anomalies similar to the Pacific–Japan teleconnection are found on DH days, suggesting that both high humidity and cloudless conditions are among the large-scale features controlled by this teleconnection. Early countermeasures to mitigate heat stroke risk, including advisories for outdoor activities, should be taken when DH-like weather patterns are predicted. Full article

Substantial progress has been made in the development of radiation countermeasures, resulting in the recent approval of several mitigators; however, there has yet to be an approved prophylactic radioprotectant. Research on countermeasure performance in mixed neutron and gamma radiation fields has also been scarce. Fibroblast-stimulating lipopeptide (FSL-1) is a novel synthetic agonist for toll-like receptor 2/6. In previous studies, the administration of FSL-1 before and after gamma radiation significantly improved survival outcomes for mice through the activation of the NF-κB pathway. In the current study, we tested FSL-1’s radioprotective abilities in a mixed radiation field that models one produced by a nuclear detonation in 11–14-week-old C57BL/6 male and female mice. We demonstrate that a single dose of 1.5 mg/kg of FSL-1 administered 12 h prior to 65% neutron 35% gamma mixed-field (MF) irradiation enhances survival, accelerates recovery of hematopoietic cell and stem cell populations, reduces inflammation, and protects innate immune function in mice. FSL-1’s ability to recover blood and protect immune functions is important in countering the high rate of incidence of sepsis caused by MF radiation’s damaging effects. These results demonstrate that FSL-1 is a promising prophylactic countermeasure where exposure to MF radiation is anticipated. Full article

As humanity advances into deep space exploration, astronauts on long-duration missions face significant challenges posed by circadian rhythm disruptions and sleep disorders, which arise from extreme environmental stressors such as microgravity, ionizing radiation, and operational workload. These disruptions not only compromise physiological and psychological health but also impair cognitive function and mission-critical performance. In this review, we summarized established countermeasures encompassing pharmacological interventions, light-based circadian regulation, and work–rest schedule optimization alongside innovative approaches such as gut microbiota modulation and traditional Chinese medicine. Full article

Background: With renewed interest in long-duration space missions, there is growing exploration into synthetic torpor as a countermeasure to mitigate physiological stressors. Sedative agents, particularly those used in clinical anesthesia, have been proposed to replicate aspects of natural torpor, including reduced metabolic rate, core temperature, and brain activity. Objectives: This systematic review aims to evaluate the potential of sedative agents to induce torpor-like states suitable for extended spaceflight. The review specifically investigates their pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and performance under space-related stressors such as microgravity and ionizing radiation. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) for studies published from 1952 to 2024. Eligible studies included experimental, preclinical, and clinical investigations examining sedative agents (especially inhalation anesthetics) in the context of metabolic suppression or space-relevant conditions. Screening, selection, and data extraction followed PRISMA guidelines. Results: Out of the screened records, 141 studies met the inclusion criteria. These were thematically grouped into seven categories, including torpor physiology, anesthetic uptake, metabolism, and inhalation anesthetics. Sedative agents showed variable success in inducing torpor-like states, with inhalation anesthetics demonstrating promising metabolic effects. However, concerns remain regarding delivery methods, safety, rewarming, and the unknown effects of prolonged use in space environments. Conclusions: Sedative agents, particularly volatile anesthetics, hold potential as tools for inducing synthetic torpor in space. Nevertheless, significant knowledge gaps and technical challenges persist. Further targeted research is required to optimize these agents for safe, controlled use in spaceflight settings. Full article

Acute radiation syndrome (ARS) occurs when hematopoietic or gastrointestinal cells are damaged by radiation exposure causing DNA damage to the bone marrow and gastrointestinal epithelial stem cell populations. In these highly proliferative cell types, DNA damage inhibits stem cell repopulation. In humans and animals, this inability to regenerate stem cells is lethal. Within this manuscript, several compounds, Amifostine, Captopril, Ciprofloxacin, PrC-210, 5-AED (5-androstene-3β,17β-diol), and 5-AET (5-androstene-3β,7β,17B-triol), are assessed for their ability to protect against ARS in an in vitro and/or in vivo setting. ARS was accomplished by irradiating mouse bone marrow cells or rat intestinal epithelial (IEC-6) cells in vitro with 4–8 Gy and in vivo by exposing Mus musculus to 7.3 Gy of whole-body irradiation. The primary endpoints of this study include cellular viability, DNA damage via γ-H2AX, colony formation, and overall survival at 30-days post-irradiation. In addition to evaluating the radioprotective performance of each compound, this study establishes a distinct set of in vitro assays to predict the overall efficacy of potential radioprotectors in an in vivo model of ARS. Furthermore, these results highlight the need for FDA-approved medical intervention to protect against ARS. Full article

With the rapid development of radio technology and its widespread application in the military field, the electromagnetic environment in which radar communication operates is becoming increasingly complex. Among them, human radio interference makes radar countermeasures increasingly fierce. This requires radar systems to have strong capabilities in resisting electronic interference, anti-radiation missiles, and radar detection. However, array antennas are one of the effective means to solve these problems. In recent years, array antennas have been extensively utilized in various fields, including radar, sonar, and wireless communication. Many evolutionary algorithms have been employed to optimize the size and phase of array elements, as well as adjust the spacing between them, to achieve the desired antenna pattern. The main objective is to enhance useful signals while suppressing interference signals. In this paper, we introduce the dandelion optimization (DO) algorithm, a newly developed swarm intelligence optimization algorithm that simulates the growth and reproduction of natural dandelions. To address the issues of low precision and slow convergence of the DO algorithm, we propose an improved version called the chaos exchange nonlinear dandelion optimization (CENDO) algorithm. The CENDO algorithm aims to optimize the spacing of antenna array elements in order to achieve a low sidelobe level (SLL) and deep nulls antenna pattern. In order to test the performance of the CENDO algorithm in solving the problem of comprehensive optimization of non-equidistant antenna array patterns, five experimental simulation examples are conducted. In Experiment Simulation Example 1, Experiment Simulation Example 2, and Experiment Simulation Example 3, the optimization objective is to reduce the SLL of non-equidistant arrays. The CENDO algorithm is compared with DO, particle swarm optimization (PSO), the quadratic penalty function method (QPM), based on hybrid particle swarm optimization and the gravity search algorithm (PSOGSA), the whale optimization algorithm (WOA), the grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), the sparrow search algorithm (SSA), the multi-objective sparrow search optimization algorithm (MSSA), the runner-root algorithm (RRA), and the cat swarm optimization (CSO) algorithms. In the three examples above, the SLLs obtained using the CENDO algorithm optimization are all the lowest. The above three examples all demonstrate that the improved CENDO algorithm performs better in reducing the SLL of non-equidistant antenna arrays. In Experiment Simulation Example 4 and In Experiment Simulation Example 5, the optimization objective is to reduce the SLL of a non-uniform array and generate some deep nulls in a specified direction. The CENDO algorithm is compared with the DO algorithm, PSO algorithm, CSO algorithm, pelican optimization algorithm (POA), and grey wolf optimizer (GWO) algorithm. In the two examples above, optimizing the antenna array using the CENDO algorithm not only results in the lowest SLL but also in the deepest zeros. The above examples both demonstrate that the improved CENDO algorithm has better optimization performance in simultaneously reducing the SLL of non-equidistant antenna arrays and reducing the null depth problem. In summary, the simulation results of five experiments show that the CENDO algorithm has better optimization ability in the comprehensive optimization problem of non-equidistant antenna array patterns than all the algorithms compared above. Therefore, it can be regarded as a strong candidate to solve problems in the field of electromagnetism. Full article

Ionizing radiation is a health threat to many, including warfighters, radiological emergency responders, radiotherapy patients, and astronauts. Despite this, no FDA-approved prophylactic medical countermeasures exist to attenuate the symptoms that occur from radiation exposure. Manganese has recently been shown to be critical for radioresistance in a wide range of organisms. In this study, we designed a stringent feeding method to test the prophylactic effects of dietary manganese on Drosophila’s lifespan before exposure to acute irradiation. We found that male flies have substantially lower radioresistance than females, but feeding with low doses of MnCl₂ before acute irradiation exposure extends male survival to that of females. Whole animal electron paramagnetic resonance analyses showed males have lower amounts of high-symmetry manganese-metabolite antioxidant complexes (H-Mn) than females, but manganese supplementation increases H-Mn to female levels. Levels of mitochondrial free-radical scavenger manganese-superoxide-dismutase 2 (MnSOD2) did not increase after acute irradiation, nor did loss of MnSOD2 sensitize larvae to acute irradiation exposure. These data support that prophylactic manganese feeding is sufficient to increase survivorship in males subjected to acute irradiation, independent of MnSOD2 levels, indicating a role of antioxidant manganese-metabolite H-Mn complexes for radioprotection. Furthermore, this Drosophila feeding method could be used to identify additional radiation countermeasures. Full article

Currently, there are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved medical countermeasures (MCMs) for radiation combined injury (RCI), partially due to limited understanding of its mechanisms. Our previous research suggests that endothelial dysfunction may contribute to a poor prognosis of RCI. In this study, we demonstrated an increased risk of mortality, body weight loss, and delayed skin wound healing in RCI mice compared to mice with skin wounds alone or radiation injury (RI) 30 days post-insult. Furthermore, we evaluated biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and impaired wound healing in mice at early time points after RCI. Mice were exposed to 9.0 Gy total-body irradiation (TBI) followed by skin wound. Samples were collected on days 3, 7, and 14 post-TBI. Endothelial dysfunction markers were measured by ELISA, and skin wound healing was assessed histologically. Our results show that endothelial damage and inflammation are more severe and persistent in the RCI compared to the wound-alone group. Additionally, RCI impairs granulation tissue formation, reduces myofibroblast presence, and delays collagen deposition, correlating with more severe endothelial damage. TGF signaling may play a key role in this impaired healing. These findings suggest that targeting the endothelial dysfunction and TGF-β pathways may provide potential therapeutic strategies for improving delayed wound healing in RCI, which could subsequently influence outcomes such as survival after RCI. Full article

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), byproducts of cellular metabolism and environmental factors, are linked to diseases like cancer and aging. Antioxidant peptides (AOPs) have emerged as effective countermeasures against ROS-induced damage. The Deinococcus genus is well known for its extraordinary resilience to ionizing radiation (IR) and possesses complex antioxidant systems designed to neutralize ROS generated by IR. In this study, we developed four peptides, each containing 9 to 11 amino acids, from the leaderless mRNA (lmRNA) sequences of D. deserti. Lacking a 5′ untranslated region, lmRNAs directly initiate protein synthesis, potentially encoding small peptides such as AOPs. Of the four peptides, Ddes-P3 was found to exhibit significant antioxidant capabilities in vitro, effectively scavenging ABTS radicals. Ddes-P3 provided considerable defense against IR-induced oxidative stress in CHO-K1 cells, demonstrating a notable reduction in ROS production and lipid peroxidation. The peptide’s potential was highlighted by its ability to enhance cell survival and maintain mitochondrial membrane potential under irradiative stress, suggesting its utility as a nontoxic and effective radioprotector in mitigating radiation-induced cellular damage. This study explores the potential role of lmRNA in synthesizing AOPs within Deinococcus. Identifying lmRNAs that encode AOPs could deepen our understanding of their cellular resistance to oxidative stress and pave the way for creating innovative biotechnological and therapeutic AOPs. Full article

Development of radiation medical countermeasures under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Animal Rule requires the capability to translate an effective animal-to-human drug dose. One method of human dose translation is using a biomarker and determining drug doses that modulate the biomarker to the desired level. BIO 300 Oral Powder (BIO 300) is a prophylactic radiation medical countermeasure that is currently being developed following the Animal Rule. The present study aimed to identify biomarkers that can be used for human dose conversion by conducting transcriptomics of whole blood collected from BIO 300-treated CD2F1 mice in the presence and absence of total-body irradiation (TBI). Unirradiated mice were treated with vehicle or 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg BIO 300, and irradiated mice were treated with 200 mg/kg or BIO 300 or vehicle prior to TBI. Whole-blood samples were collected after the last dose of the drug and after irradiation. RNA sequencing demonstrated 100 and 200 mg/kg of BIO 300 doses caused significantly more differential gene expression at 48 h after drug dose compared to 50 mg/kg of BIO 300 (7648, 7680, and 55 significantly differently expressed genes, respectively). Interestingly, following TBI, there were no significantly differentially expressed genes between vehicle- and BIO 300-treated mice. Despite the lack of significant changes in gene expression, the transcriptomic profiles in both groups indicated differential changes in signaling pathways. Pathway analysis of the transcriptome profile from vehicle-treated/TBI mice revealed that many inflammatory signaling pathways were activated in these animals. Signaling pathways enriched in BIO 300-treated/TBI mice were involved in cellular stress and immune response and were predicted to be inhibited. In all, four signaling pathways of interest were identified that were differentially enriched in irradiated animals treated with BIO 300: pathogen-induced cytokine storm signaling, S100 family signaling, pulmonary fibrosis idiopathic signaling, and wound-healing signaling. These pathways should be explored to identify potential biomarkers of BIO 300 that can be used for human dose translation. Full article

Radar radiation source recognition technology is vital in electronic countermeasures, electromagnetic control, and air traffic management. Its primary function is to identify radar signals in real time by computing and inferring the parameters of intercepted signals. With the rapid advancement of AI technology, deep learning algorithms have shown promising results in addressing the challenges of radar radiation source recognition. However, significant obstacles remain: the radar radiation source data often exhibit large-scale, unbalanced sample distribution and incomplete sample labeling, resulting in limited training data resources. Additionally, in practical applications, models must be deployed on outdoor edge computing terminals, where the storage and computing capabilities of lightweight embedded systems are limited. This paper focuses on overcoming the constraints posed by data resources and edge computing capabilities to design and deploy large-scale radar radiation source recognition algorithms. Initially, it addresses the issues related to large-scale radar radiation source samples through data analysis, preprocessing, and feature selection, extracting and forming prior knowledge information. Subsequently, a model named RIR-DA (Radar ID Recognition based on Deep Learning Autoencoder) is developed, integrating this prior knowledge. The RIR-DA model successfully identified 96 radar radiation source targets with an accuracy exceeding 95% in a dataset characterized by a highly imbalanced sample distribution. To tackle the challenges of poor migration effects and low computational efficiency on lightweight edge computing platforms, a parallel acceleration scheme based on the embedded microprocessor T4240 is designed. This approach achieved a nearly eightfold increase in computational speed while maintaining the original training performance. Furthermore, an integrated solution for a radar radiation source intelligent detection system combining PC devices and edge devices is preliminarily designed. Experimental results demonstrate that, compared to existing radar radiation source target recognition algorithms, the proposed method offers superior model performance and greater practical extensibility. This research provides an innovative exploratory solution for the industrial application of deep learning models in radar radiation source recognition. Full article