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