The effects of spaceflight on triceps surae muscle torque and cross-sectional area (CSA) were investigated on four astronauts using electrically evoked contractions to by-pass neural control. Muscle twitch characteristics, ankle joint angle-twitch torque relation, frequency-torque relation, tetanic torque and fatigability were assessed before, during and after a 17-day Space Shuttle flight (STS-78). Muscle plus bone cross-sectional area (CSAm+b) was evaluated before and after the flight. Whereas no changes in muscle function were observed during the flight, marked alterations were found during the recovery period. Peak twitch (PTw) and tetanic torques at 50 Hz (PT50) continued to fall up to the 8th recovery day (R+8) on which losses in PTw and PT50 were 24.4% (P<0.01) and 22.0% (P<0.01), respectively. The decline in PTw was not joint-angle-specific. Post-flight, especially on R+8, torque decreased at all stimulation frequencies (1, 20, 30 and 50 Hz); however the shape of the frequency-torque curve, normalised for PT50, was not modified. Similarly, no changes in twitch kinetics were observed. Post- flight, an 8% (P<0.01) reduction in CSAm+b was found on R+2. Normalisation of PT50 values for CSAm+b showed a progressive loss in specific torque (PT50/CSAm+b), which was maximal on R+2 (19.5%, P<0.05). Also, fatigability during 2-min intermittent stimulation at 20 Hz increased throughout recovery, reaching a nadir of 16.4% (P<0.01) on R+15. In conclusion, 17 days of spaceflight resulted in significant changes in muscle function during the recovery phase, but not in microgravity. The disproportionate loss of torque compared with that of muscle size suggests the presence of muscle damage due to reloading in 1 g.

No abstract

No abstract

In this paper, we present the concept of a novel diagnostic device for on-site analyses, based on the use of advanced bio-sensing and photonics technologies to tackle emerging and endemic viruses causing swine epidemics and significant economic damage in farms. The device is currently under development in the framework of the EU Commission co-funded project. The overall concept behind the project is to develop a method for an early and fast on field detection of selected swine viruses by non-specialized personnel. The technology is able to detect pathogens in different types of biological samples, such as oral fluids, faeces, blood or nasal swabs. The device will allow for an immediate on-site threat assessment. In this work, we present the overall concept of the device, its architecture with the technical requirements, and all the used innovative technologies that contribute to the advancements of the current state of the art.

The effects of four weeks of continuous illumination (LL), a subacute stress, on gastric mucosal endogenous aggressive and defensive factors were studied. Young male Sprague-Dawley rats were used with two different illumination regimens: LL and 12 hr light/12 hr dark (LD). At the end of three to four weeks of either regimen of illumination, gastric acid secretion, pepsin secretion, mucus secretion, and potential difference (PD) were studied. All gastric parameters, except mucus secretion, were significantly reduced by LL. The reduction in acid secretion (13.3%) was not significant after Bonferroni correction for the four t tests Pepsin secretion and PD were 27.9% and 24.6% less, respectively. These differences were significant after Bonferroni correction. The LD rats showed significant circadian rhythms for acid, mucus, and pepsin secretion. The LL rats showed significant rhythmicity for these same parameters with period lengths different from 24 hr. Gross inspection of the gastric mucosa indicated that 69.8% of the LL rats had lesion scores of 1.0 or higher, while none of the LD rats had scores above 0.5.