A New Baby Girl! Early Spring 2010 On February 9, 2010, DSLS scientist Sara Zwart, PhD, gave birth to little Emily Catherine - just a few days after presenting at the HRP workshop and at the DSLS Brown Bag Luncheon! With that much exposure to science while still in the womb, Emily is likely to become a great researcher herself! :) DSLS Newsletter UNIVERSITIES SPACE RESEARCH ASSOCIATION Emily and Jonathan Zwart Emily Catherine Zwart Welcome, Emily, and congratulations to Sara, Dan and big brother Jonathan! New Member of the DSLS Team On March 1, 2010, Dr. Minli Wang joined the DSLS team. Minli received her master degree in Medicine from Capital University of Medical Science (China). In 2005 she earned her Medical Doctor degree at the Institute of Medical Radiation Biology, Duisburg-Essen University (Germany). During the Minli Wang, MD three years of postdoctoral training in the same institute, she studied the contribution of homologous recombination repair (HRR) and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) in the repair of radiation induced DNA double strand breaks, and the possible function of alternative pathways of NHEJ that utilize PARP-1 and DNA Ligase III. She was selected for participation in NASA's Space Radiation Summer School in 2007. From 2009 she worked in the Radiation Oncology Department of Emory University, using a 3D culture of neuronal progenitor cells as a biological model to determine the function of PARP-1 dependent DNA repair pathway in the removal of clustered DNA damage in CNS in response to HZE. She now works in the Space Radiation Health Program with Dr. Francis Cucinotta, focusing on the roles of the Smads and activating transcription factor 2 (ATF2) proteins as the potential major contributors to cross-talk between the TGFβ and ATM pathways, and links to cell cycle control and/or the DNA damage response. Minli’s office is currently at USRA Houston. She can be reached at wang@dsls.usra.edu and at (281) 244-2032. Please join us in welcoming her to the DSLS team! The DSLS Newsletter is published on a bi-monthly basis. Dagmar Morgan—Editor HRP Workshop photos by Kay Nute & Dagmar Morgan Division of Space Life Sciences Universities Space Research Association 3600 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston, TX 77058 2010 Human Research Program Investigators’ Workshop The 2010 NASA HRP Investigators' Workshop was held February 3 - 5, 2010, at the Westin Galleria Hotel in Houston. 472 attendees participated in Yes, there was even coffee!! plenary and break-out sessions to discuss “Human Research in the Post-Shuttle Era”. Led by Terri Jones, the DSLS administrative team provided the logistics Terri Jones, Business Manager for the meeting. Dana helping one of the participants. For the first time this year, USRA provided an award to recognize and highlight the accomplishments and future promise of a young investigator working on a NASA Human Research Program project. The recipient of the USRA Young Investigator Award was Dr. Daniela Trani, who works at Georgetown University under the guidance of Dr. Al Fornace. Her current research focuses on space radiation and intestinal tumorigenesis risk assessAdrian LeBlanc, PhD, presents the USRA Young Investigator ment. ConAward to Daniela Trani, PhD. gratulations, Daniela! Kellie working on registrations. Kay and Dagmar collecting surveys. Rachel Ellman won first prize in the Student Poster Contest. A student poster contest was held by the NSBRI, and Jean Sibonga’s former intern Rachel Ellman, a graduate of MIT, won first prize. Congratulations, Rachel! Chris Westby was recognized in the New Talent Chris Westby, PhD Showcase, where he presented a talk on vascular differences between men and women at 6o head down bed rest. Congratulations, Chris! Gail and Lori working at the registration booth. Tea break. Spring! Ah, Spring …. Remember the days of warmer weather? Sources differ in their estimation as to the last winter freeze in Houston, but it is supposed to occur mid- to late February. Keep your eyes on the 10-day forecasts though before you start working in your garden! And remember another Spring feature: Daylight Savings Time begins in just a few days—March 14! Don’t forget to set your clocks one hour forward that Saturday evening! Page 2 DSLS Scientists At Suborbital Flight Training DSLS scientists Scott Wood and Ramona Gaza, together with USRA astrophysicist Dr. Joanne Hill from Goddard Space Flight Center, successfully completed the inaugural suborbital scientist training program to familiarize themselves with human suborbital spaceflight. The course was held at the National AeroSpace Training and Research Center (NASTAR) outside of Philadelphia. NASTAR is a new facility that provides training and Center and is organized by Drs. Alan Stern and Dan Durda of the Southwest Research Institute. Check out the DSLS website that now features a video of Ramona and Scott (www.dsls.usra.edu/new.html). To learn more, please mark your calendar for the DSLS Brown Bag Luncheon Seminar on March 25, where Scott and Ramona will share their experiences. research support for the aerospace industry. The two-day program in January was designed to acquaint individuals with the physiological rigors of suborbital human spaceflight and included space flight training, altitude physiology, classroom work, centrifuge flights and altitude chamber runs. The Suborbital ScientistAstronaut training course has been developed by the NASTAR USRA scientists Ramona Gaza, Joanne Hill and Scott Wood with their trainer at the NASTAR center. Education and Public Outreach Regina Buccello-Stout mentored nine Graduate Student Research Projects and met with the groups weekly to guide them in finalizing their research proposals. She also teaches a Psychology Graduate Research Design course at the University of Houston Clear Lake. Zarana Patel mentors a Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program / Systems Engineering Educational Discovery (SEED) project “Apparatus Development for 3D Cell Culture in Microgravity” to fly an experiment in the Microgravity aircraft. Scott Wood mentored USRP intern M. Cordova. Janice Huff assisted visiting scientist Dr. Oleg Belyakov. Larry Kuznetz mentors Tom Miller, graduate student at University of Southwest Alabama. Ajit Mulavara reviewed manuscripts for Journal of Vestibular Research and for Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine. Lori Ploutz-Snyder met with University of Houston faculty about a dissertation project for student Meghan Everett and worked with Kyle Hackney to develop his dissertation proposal. Lori is also the dissertation advisor for Rocky Mountain State University student Lynne and par- ticipated by telecom in the dissertation defense for Ruth Franklin, PhD student at Syracuse University, who successfully defended her dissertation in Jan. Lori further mentored Laura Leonard, UH Clear Lake and judged 5th grade science fair projects for Sandra Mossman Elementary School, Clear Creek ISD. Jessica Scott is a board member for “Space without Borders", an organization looking to utilize space technology to benefit developing countries. Claudio Carra reviewed a manuscript for J Com Chem. Continued on Page 7 Page 3 SPOTLIGHT ON: Oleg V. Belyakov, PhD! to the existing research. On the other hand, we were able to assemble a team for the new project: “Space Radiation Induced Cancer Progression and Genomic Instability in Human Bioengineered 3D Tissues and Humanized Mouse Models (SPACERADCAN)”. Now we are applying for the grant to implement Tell us briefly about yourself and this project. I also did some your family. experimental work in collaboration My story is quite simple; please with Prairie View A&M University. see a synopsis on the USRA We irradiated 3D human EpiOcular website (http://www.dsls.usra.edu/ tissues with neutrons at the Los Oleg Belyakov, PhD belyakov.html). I am married, my Alamos National Lab (LANL). Pixel wife’s name is Olga and she is a tissue systems for studies of space detection was utilized to record parMontessori teacher. We have three radiation health effects. The ticle hits in the tissue with micron kids: Dennis (2000), Maria (2005) ultimate goal would be transition precision. Samples will be analyzed and Nicole (2007). We live in for DNA damage endpoints from in vitro to in vivo Vantaa, Finland (near Helsinki, the experimental models. The (H2AX/53BP1 foci) at various times capital), for the last few years. We rationale of my work (in vitro - in after irradiation. The co-localization are Christians and belong to the vivo - in silico) is directed toward of the track passages and the Russian Orthodox Church. I used improving the estimation of space biological effects will be performed. to study theology for a short time radiation induced cancerogenesis at the Cambridge Institute for in humans by progressing from in Orthodox Christian Studies in vitro to in vivo and subsequently parallel with my Ph.D. at Gary to in silico (i.e. computer) models. Cancer Institute. Olga sings in a What is most important to you church choir. regarding your work at JSC? Visiting scientist Oleg Belyakov, PhD, who currently serves in the Space Radiation Program under the guidance of Dr. Francis Cucinotta, was recently interviewed for the Spotlight Article. Oleg, Olga and Dennis I think that JSC and USRA provide a unique environment of scientific excellence. There are many very bright researchers (and administrators!) around and it is a pleasure to work with them. On other hand NASA, in general, has very ambitious goals of space exploration and it is great to be a part of it. Oleg’s beautiful children Thank you so much for being our spotlight scientist for this edition of the DSLS Newsletter, Oleg, and for sharing pictures of your family with us! What are you presently working on What are your goals for this year? at JSC? Since I joined NASA JSC and USRA quite recently, my main The main direction of my work is activity is exploration and linking an attempt to adapt human 3D Page 4 Research Grant Proposals Batki SL, PloutzSnyder R, "Comparative Effectiveness: Oral vs XR-Naltrexone for Alcohol Dependence/SPMI", submitted to NaRob Ploutz-Snyder, PhD tional Institutes of Health in response to Collaborative R01s for Clinical and Services Studies of Mental Disorders, AIDS and Alcohol Use Disorders (R01), January, 2010. Sibonga JD, Lin C, PloutzSnyder R, Wehrli FW, Wright A, "Feasibility of Magnetic Resonance [MR] TechnolJean Sibonga, PhD ogy to Measure Deterioration in Trabecular Microarchitecture and Degradation in Intervertebral Disc [IVD] Composition in an Analog for Spaceflight", submitted step 2 proposal in response to NRA Research and Technology Development to Support Crew Health and Performance in Space Exploration Missions, NNJ09ZSA002N, December 3, 2009. Arndt, Byerly D, Pickering, Sognier M, "Microwave-Based Water Decontamination System for a Space Potable Water System", submitted to NASA JSC, January 2010. Westby C (as Co-I) submitted DTO proposal Chris Westby, PhD "Evaluation of Commercial Compression Garments to Prevent Post-Spaceflight Orthostatic Intolerance." This DTO will address the efficacy of a new type of compression garment in preventing orthostatic intolerance after both short- and long-duration space flight. The project length of the study is 3-4 years. Wood SJ, Cohen HS, Gottshall KR, Harm DL, Hoffer ME, Kozlovska IB, Mulavara AP, Peters BT, Reschke MF, Rupert AH. "Selfadministered sensorimotor Ajitkumar Mulavara, PhD assessment and rehabilitation." Step 2 proposal submitted to NASA Research Announcement NNJ09ZSA002N. Stangel, Arndt, Makishima T, Wood Byerly D, Sognier SJ. "Vestibular dysM, "A Novel Comfunction in caspaseposite Incorporat3 deficient mice." ing Microwave Grant submitted to Cure Augmentathe Deafness Scott Wood, PhD tion: Materials/ Research FoundaMicrobial Impact", tion, December 2009. Marguerite Sognier, PhD submitted to NIH, January 2010. Honors & Awards Zarana Patel was accepted as a member of the Radiation Research Society’s Scholar-in-Training (SIT) Committee for a three year tenure. Zarana Patel, PhD Rob Ploutz-Snyder was invited as lead author of a Quantitative Analytical Methods chapter in a Handbook for Institutional Research. The Handbook is expected to be published by Jossey-Bass around June, and is part of the Professional Development mission of the National Association of Institutional Research. DSLS Birthdays! March 7 - Zarana Patel March 10 - Rob Ploutz-Snyder March 15 - Patrice Yarbough March 24 - Lori Ploutz-Snyder March 26 - Kellie Rogers April 4 - Lingegowda Mangala April 8 - Susi Zanello April 8 - Sara Zwart April 21 - Hatem Nounu Happy Birthday!!! Page 5 Recent Scientific Presentations Invited talk, Belyakov O, "Studies of non-targeted biological effects of ionising radiation", University of Louisiana at Lafayette Accelerator Center, January 19, 2010. Invited talk, Huff J, presented journal article “Interaction with surrounding normal epithelial cells influences signalling pathways and behaviour of Src-transformed Invited talk, Belyakov O, "Studies cells”, Mihoko Kajita, et al. Jourof non-targeted biological effects of nal of Cell Science 123, 171-180 ionising radiation", Space Radiation (2010), Space Radiation Journal Club, January 15, 2010, NASA Journal Club, NASA JSC. JSC. Invited talk, Carra Abstract, Kim MC, ”The Absolute H Y, Hu S, CuciBinding Free Ennotta FA, ergy, a Check"Statistical Predicmate?” Space Ration of Solar Partidiation Journal cle Event FreClub, December 4, quency based on Myung-Hee Kim, PhD 2009, NASA JSC. Claudio Carra, PhD the Measurements Invited talk, of Recent Solar Cycles for Acute Cromwell R, "Lunar Analog Feasi- Radiation Risk Analysis," 2009 bility Study Results", Head Up Tilt AGU Fall Meeting, December 14Bed Rest Workshop, December 9, 18, 2009, San Francisco, Califor2009, USRA Houston. nia. Poster. Invited talk, Hada Invited talk, Ploutz-Snyder R, M, "AT cells are not "Statistical Methods and Applicaradiosensitive for tions Review", December 3 & 16, chromosomal ex2009, USRA Houston. changes at low radiaInvited talk, Shea C, "Antarctica tion doses", RadiaMeta Analysis", European Space tion Biophysics Group Seminar, De- Agency Workshop on Human Behavior and Performance in AnaMegumi Hada, PhD cember 18, 2009, logue Environments and SimulaNASA JSC. tions, December 5 – 11, 2009, Noordwijk, The Netherlands. Invited talk, Sibonga J, "RMAT #1 Risk Camille Shea, PhD for Early Onset Osteoporosis", International Human System Risk Board, January 12, 2010, NASA JSC. Invited talk, Zanello S, "RealTime PCR for Gene Expression studies", Technical Review Series, January 21, 2010, NASA JSC. Susi Zanello, PhD Invited talk, Zwart S, "Vitamin D: Findings from Antarctic, Bed Rest, Houston, and ISS", Brown Bag Luncheon Seminar, January 28, 2010, USRA Houston. Upcoming Seminars at USRA Houston March 10 BioAstronautics Speaker Series: Dr. Andrew Pilmanis, Research Physiologist (Retired), Air Force Research Laboratory, Brooks City Base, Texas: “Recent Severe Neurological Altitude De compression Sickness (DCS)” March 11 SMAR #10: Rob Ploutz-Snyder, PhD, USRA-DSLS: “Regression Analysis” March 15 Research Seminar: Dr. William Marras: Professor and Director, Biodynamics Laboratory, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio: “Assessment of Low Back Pain Causal Pathways in Re lation to Physical and Psychological Exposure” March 23 Aerospace Medicine Grand Rounds: Kevin Diehl, MD, Lyster Army Health Clinic, Fort Rucker, Alabama: “Operational Medical Care In and Out of Helicopters” Page 6 Education and Public Outreach (continued) Patrice Yarbough teaches BTEC 2320: "Biotech Regulatory Environment" at the University of Houston Central Campus. She also attended a brainstorming session at Hunter College on new approaches to increase the number of women of color staying in science careers. Roni Cromwell provided a tour of the Flight Analogs Research Unit for Ginger Wotring and a Nutrition Lab student intern. Ramona Gaza supported the Technical Review Committee for the Prairie View University Research Center 4th quarter meeting at Prairie View by telecon where the progress of the PV URC has been discussed. Myung Kim served as a reviewer for a manuscript submitted to Radiation and Environmental Biophysics and provided technical consult to Dr. Marcelo Vazquez, NSBRI Senior Scientist, for the probability calculation of having proton fluence above the double intensity of August 1972 event for a given mission period. Lealem Mulugeta continued strategy development for the DAP STEM education outreach program. The current concept involves online game development centered around human health and countermeasures during Lealem Mulugeta, MSc exploration missions, particularly for ISS missions. Rob Ploutz-Snyder volunteered at the Mossman Elementary School holiday luncheon and participated in a National Fathering Campaign as a “WATCH D.O.G.”. WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) is the father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering that organizes fathers and father figures in order to provide positive male role models for students and to enhance school security. He also judged 5th grade science fair projects for Sandra Mossman Elementary School, Clear Creek ISD. Teitronix contractor. This is the first vodcast in the HRP NewsNetwork. Marguerite Sognier hosted an Honoring the Teachers event at Moody Gardens to honor teachers who are committed to being lifelong learners and provided the introductory comments with slide shows for the program. Virginia Wotring was a Science Fair Judge at Space Center Intermediate School. She also presented a short safety talk, “Safety in the Medicine Cabinet”, to the Weekly Management Tag. Virginia Wotring, PhD Sara Zwart reviewed a manuscript for Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise. Jean Sibonga recorded a “Bone Research in HRP” vodcast with What’s Going On With ... Oleg Belyakov carried out neutron irradiation of EpiOcular human artificial tissues in Los Alamos using ‘pixel detector’ in collaboration with Dr. Prem Saganti, Prairie View A&M University, and Zarana Patel. Oleg also began a 3D simulation of energy deposition in collaboration with Artem Ponomarev. James Fiedler wrote a function for the STATA statistics program to convert data from STATA format to a format that WinBUGS, another statistics progam, can understand. This new function has been added to an online repository of STATA functions. Roni Cromwell and the FAP team successfully completed the Kick-Off Meeting for Campaign 9: Daily Bone Load Stimulus, Near Infrared Spectroscopy, and Standard Measures. The first subject will be enrolled in early March. Roni Cromwell, PhD Continued on Page 8 Page 7 What’s Going On With …. (continued) Scott Wood completed 6 preflight test sessions for crewmembers on STS-130 for MR042S posturography. He also finished the repair of a rotator at KSC in preparation of ZAGOtolith STS-130 post-flight testing. Chris Westby established a collaboration beChris Westby, PhD tween Dr. Honglu Wu (in NASA’s Space Radiation Element) and the Cardiovascular Laboratory with a focus on understanding the potential radioprotective effects of low-dose radiation in tissues that form the cardiovascular system. Johnny Conkin received galley proofs to two chapters about women and DCS. Currently Johnny Conkin, PhD the publisher plans to release the book, Women and Jessica Scott received approval to Pressure, at the Beneath the Sea con- begin speckle tracking analysis on existing echocardiography bed rest ference in New Jersey in March. data and finished analyzing MRI muscle images for the “MRI and Ultrasound Comparison” study. She also began a literature search for the meta analysis entitled “Effects of exercise training on aerobic capacity and skeleJessica Scott, PhD tal muscle function in cancer patients” with collaborators from Duke University. New Publications by DSLS Scientists Baverstock K, Belyakov OV. 2010. Some important questions connected with non-targeted effects. Mutation Research / Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis. [E-pub ahead of print]: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/ j.mrfmmm.2010.01.002 Tisnek N, Iversen J, Serkland CW, Belyakov O, Dahle J. 2009. A 238Pu irradiator for exposure of cultured cells with alpha-radiation: Construction, calibration and dosimetry. Appl Radiat Isot, 67(11), 1998-2002. Miller C, Brady R, Bloomberg JJ. 2010. Locomotor function after long-duration space flight: effects and motor learning James Fiedler, PhD during recovery. Experimental Brain Research. [E-pub ahead of print]: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00221010-2171-0 Plante I, Cucinotta FA. 2009. Energy deposition and relative frequency of hits of cylindrical Newton RA, Cromwell, RL, Rogers HL. 2010. The Relationship nanovolume in mebetween physical performance and dium irradiated by Ianik Plante, MD PhD obesity in elderly African-American ions: Monte Carlo simulation of tracks structure. Radiat women. Physical & Occupational Environ Biophys. [Epub ahead of Therapy in Geriatrics. 27(6): 423print]. http://lib.bioinfo.pl/ 440. pmid:19916014 Mulavara AP, Feiveson AH, Cowley PM, Ploutz-Snyder LL, Fiedler J, Cohen H, Peters BT, Baynard T, Heffernan K, Jae SY, U N I V E R S I T I E S S P A C E R E S E A R C H Hsu S, Lee M, Pitetti KH, Reiman MP, Fernhall B. 2009. Physical fitness predicts functional tasks in individuals with Down syndrome. Med Sci Sports Exerc. [Epub ahead of print]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/ MSS.0b013e3181b07e7a Zhou D, Semones E, O’Sullivan D, Zapp N, Weyland M, Reitz G, Berger T, Benton ER. 2010. Radiation measured for MATROSHKA-1 ex- Dazhuang Zhou, PhD periment with passive dosimeters. Acta Astronautica, 66: 301308 Zhou D, O’Sullivan D, Semones E, Zapp N, Benton ER. 2009. Research on sensitivity fading for CR-39 detector during long time exposure. Radiation Measurements, 44: 909-913. A S S O C I A T I O N Early Spring Page 8