Učni načrt predmeta

Predmet:
Ekstremna okolja
Course:
Extreme Environments
Študijski program in stopnja /
Study programme and level
Študijska smer /
Study field
Letnik /
Academic year
Semester /
Semester
Ekotehnologije, 2. stopnja Modul SPACEMED 2 3
Ecotechnologies, 2nd cycle SPACEMED Module 2 3
Vrsta predmeta / Course type
Izbirni / Elective
Univerzitetna koda predmeta / University course code:
EKO2-926
Predavanja
Lectures
Seminar
Seminar
Vaje
Tutorial
Klinične vaje
work
Druge oblike
študija
Samost. delo
Individ. work
ECTS
90 90 90 630 30

*Navedena porazdelitev ur velja, če je vpisanih vsaj 15 študentov. Drugače se obseg izvedbe kontaktnih ur sorazmerno zmanjša in prenese v samostojno delo. / This distribution of hours is valid if at least 15 students are enrolled. Otherwise the contact hours are linearly reduced and transfered to individual work.

Nosilec predmeta / Course leader:
prof. dr. Igor Mekjavić
Sodelavci / Lecturers:
dr. Urša Ciuha , doc. dr. Leonidas Ioannou
Jeziki / Languages:
Predavanja / Lectures:
slovenščina, angleščina / Slovenian, English
Vaje / Tutorial:
slovenščina, angleščina / Slovenian, English
Pogoji za vključitev v delo oz. za opravljanje študijskih obveznosti:
Prerequisites:

Zaključen študij prve stopnje naravoslovne ali biomedicinske smeri ali zaključen študij drugih smeri z dokazanim poznavanjem osnov področja predmeta (potrdila, razgovor).

Completed first-cycle studies in life sciences and/or biomedical engineering, or completed studies in other fields with proven knowledge of the fundamentals in the field of this course (certificates, interview).

Vsebina:
Content (Syllabus outline):

Predmet je sestavljen iz naslednjih enot:
U7 Fiziologija izolacije in neaktivnosti, povezane z vesoljskimi poleti 20 KT:
U7-EC1 Človeški habitati v ekstremnih okoljih 4 KT:
predavanja o zasnovi habitatov in življenju v zaprtih ter izoliranih okoljih; enotedenski tečaj speleologije in dvotedenska odprava v kraško jamo; meritve vplivov zaprtosti, izolacije in odsotnosti cirkadianih signalov;
U7-EC2 Sarkopenija, povezana z vesoljskimi poleti 4 KT: predavanja o sarkopeniji in mišični funkciji; sodelovanje pri projektu v objektu PlanHab z modelom ležanja v postelji (z protiukrepi in brez njih);
U7-EC3 Kardiovaskularna dekondicija, povezana z vesoljskimi poleti 4 KT: predavanja o kardiovaskularni dekondiciji; meritve kardiovaskularnih odzivov in delovne zmogljivosti v hipoksiji (odprava na Dobratsch, Dobratsch-Gimfelhaus) in pri ležanju v postelji (PlanHab);
U7-EC4 Cirkadiani ritmi, regulacija temperature, spanje in prehrana 4 KT: predavanja o cirkadianih ritmih, termoregulaciji, spanju in prehrani; spremljanje temperature, spanja in cirkadianih ritmov med odpravo v jamo;
U7-EC5 Vesoljska ergonomija 4 KT: predavanja o vesoljski ergonomiji, vključno z interakcijo med človekom in robotom; ergonomska analiza izbranega habitata ali opreme iz terenskih študij; seminarska naloga o izbrani temi enote U7.

U8 Pilotni predlog za diplomsko nalogo 10 KT
U8-EC1 Pilotna študija 5 KT: študent pod vodstvom mentorja samostojno (ali v paru) načrtuje in izvede manjšo pilotno raziskavo iz ekstremnih okolij: postavi hipotezo, pripravi protokol z upoštevanjem varnosti in etike, kalibrira in validira instrumente, zbere podatke (na terenu ali v laboratoriju) in jih analizira:
U8-EC2 Priprava predloga za diplomsko nalogo 5 KT: pregled literature, opredelitev raziskovalnega vprašanja in ciljev, zasnova metodologije (na podlagi izkušenj iz pilotne študije), časovni načrt, tveganja in etična vprašanja; posvetovanja z mentorjem.

Predmet se osredotoča na najsodobnejša vprašanja, povezana z ekstremnimi okolji. Študenti skozi dve terenski raziskavi in eno študijo vesoljskega analognega okolja povezujejo znanje s področij fiziologije in medicine, pridobljeno v 1. in 2. semestru.
Opravijo enotedenski tečaj speleologije in dvotedensko odpravo v kraško jamo z inštruktorji pridruženega partnerja, Jamarske zveze Slovenije. Med odpravo izvajajo eksperimente o vplivih zaprtosti, izolacije in odsotnosti cirkadianih časovnih signalov, hkrati pa razvijajo veščine vodenja in timskega dela. Podobno po osnovnem usposabljanju iz gorništva, ki ga zagotovi pridruženi partner Planinska zveza Slovenije, sodelujejo pri organizaciji visokogorske odprave na goro Dobratsch. Nastanjeni so v koči Dobratsch-Gimfelhaus na približno 2260 m nadmorske višine, kjer preučujejo hipobarično hipoksijo in delovno zmogljivost. Obe območji zaradi svoje lege ob slovenskih mejah ponujata tudi večkulturno izkušnjo. Zaključni skupinski projekt poteka v zemeljskem raziskovalnem objektu PlanHab Evropske vesoljske agencije (ESA) v Planici. Z uporabo modela ležanja v postelji študenti ocenjujejo učinke hipoksične neaktivnosti z uporabo protiukrepov in brez njih ter se tako seznanijo s tem vesoljskim analognim modelom. Te odprave in projekti študentom pomagajo pri oblikovanju lastnega raziskovalnega projekta.

The course is composed of the following units:
U7 Physiology of Space flight associated confinement and Inactivity 20 ECTS:
U7-EC1 Human habitats in extreme environments 4 ECTS: lectures on habitat design and life in confined and isolated environments; one-week speleology course and two-week Karst cave expedition; measurements of the effects of confinement, isolation and removal of circadian cues;
U7-EC2 Spaceflight associated sarcopenia 4 ECTS: lectures on sarcopenia and muscle function; participation in the PlanHab project using the bed rest model (with and without countermeasures);
U7-EC3 Spaceflight associated cardiovascular deconditioning 4 ECTS: lectures on cardiovascular deconditioning; measurements of cardiovascular responses and work capacity in hypoxia (Mt. Dobratsch, Dobratsch-Gimfelhaus) and during bed rest (PlanHab);
U7-EC4 Circadian rhythms, temperature regulation, sleep and nutrition 4 ECTS: lectures on circadian rhythms, thermoregulation, sleep and nutrition; monitoring of temperature, sleep and circadian rhythms during the cave expedition;
U7-EC5 Space ergonomics 4 ECTS: lectures on space ergonomics, including human-robot interaction; ergonomic analysis of a selected habitat or piece of equipment from the field studies; seminar paper on a chosen U7 topic.

U8 Thesis proposal-pilot 10 ECTS:
U8-EC1 Pilot study 5 ECTS: under a mentor's supervision, the student independently (or in pairs) designs and conducts a small pilot study in extreme environments: formulates a hypothesis, prepares a protocol addressing safety and ethics, calibrates and validates instruments, collects data (in the field or laboratory) and analyses them;
U8-EC2 Thesis proposal preparation 5 ECTS: literature review, definition of the research question and aims, design of the methodology (informed by the pilot study), timeline, risks and ethical issues; consultations with the mentor.

The course focuses on cutting-edge issues in extreme environments. Students integrate the physiology and medicine concepts gained in Semesters 1 and 2 through two field studies and a space analogue study. They complete a one-week speleology course and a two-week expedition in a Karst Cave with instructors from Associated Partner Slovene Speleological Society, conducting experiments on confinement, isolation and the removal of circadian cues while building team leadership skills. Similarly, after basic mountaineering training from Associated Partner Slovene Alpine Association, they help organise a high-altitude expedition on Mt. Dobratsch, based at the hut Dobratsch-Gimfelhaus(at an altitude of approx. 2260 m), where they study the effect of hypobaric hypoxia and work capacity. Both regions offer a multicultural experience on Slovenia's borders. The final team project, at ESA's ground-based PlanHab facility (Planica), uses the bed rest model to assess hypoxic inactivity with and without countermeasures, introducing students to this space analogue. These expeditions and projects help students formulate their own research project.

Temeljna literatura in viri / Readings:

Izbrani novejši članki iz znanstvenih revij s tega področja in izbrana poglavja iz / Selected recent articles from scientific journals in this field and selected chapters from:
1. Piantadosi, C. A. (2003). The Biology of Human Survival. Life and Death in Extreme Environments. Oxford University Press.
2. Brubakk, A. O., Neumann, T. S. (eds.) (2003). Bennett and Elliott's Physiology and Medicine of Diving. Saunders.
3. Bove, A. (2004). Bove and Davis' Diving Medicine. Saunders.
4. Gošović, S., Gošović, G. (2010). Commercial and Naval Deep Diving Manual. Laurana d.o.o.
5. Auerbach, P. S. (ed.) (2001). Wilderness Medicine. Mosby.
6. Muza, S. R., Fulco, C. S., Cymerman, A. (2004). Altitude Acclimatization Guide. U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine.
7. Rainford, D. J., Gradwell, D. P. (eds.) (2006). Ernsting's Aviation Medicine.
8. Churchill, S. E. (ed.) (1997). Fundamentals of Space Life Sciences, Vol. 1 & 2. Krieger Publishing Company.
9. Ward, M. S., Milledge, J. S., West, J. B. (2000). High Altitude Medicine and Physiology. Arnold.
10. Nicogossian, A. E., Parker Jr., J. F. (1982). Space Physiology and Medicine. U.S. Government Printing Office.
11. Carey, W. (ed.) (2001). The International Space Station. European Users Guide. European Space Agency.

Cilji in kompetence:
Objectives and competences:

Pripraviti študente za reševanje kritičnih izzivov ekstremnih okolij.

Splošne kompetence:
- sposobnost za samostojno in skupinsko raziskovalno in razvojno delo,
- sposobnost uporabe znanja v praksi,
- delno tudi razvoj integralnega načina mišljenja ter sposobnost za komunikacijo s strokovnjaki drugih disciplin in področij.

Predmetnospecifične kompetence:
- obvladovanje metod in tehnik znanstvenega raziskovanja s področja ekstremnih okolij,
- kritično mišljenje in analiza: kritična ocena znanstvenih dokazov o človeških fizioloških odzivih na okoljske stresorje,
- raziskovalne spretnosti, vključno z načrtovanjem in izvajanjem poskusov za fiziološko in okoljsko spremljanje: kalibracija in validacija instrumentov, načrtovanje vzorčenja in zagotavljanje kakovosti meritev na terenu in v laboratoriju,
- modeliranje in analiza podatkov: analiza časovnih vrst in frekvenčnih domen ter statistično modeliranje odnosov med okoljskimi dejavniki in fiziološkimi odzivi,
- interdisciplinarno povezovanje znanja (fiziologija, medicina, kemija, fizika, biologija, inženirstvo) skupaj s prilagodljivostjo in inovativnostjo pri reševanju kompleksnih problemov s praktičnimi študijami primerov: celostno razumevanje interakcije med človekom in okoljem ter prenos rešitev med vesoljskim in zemeljskim okoljem.

Po uspešnem zaključku bo študent obvladal naslednje veščine:
- uporabo kompleksne opreme za beleženje podatkov o človeški fiziološki strukturi in odzivov na eksperimentalne dražljaje;
- uporabo naprednih orodij za analizo v časovni in frekvenčni domeni za zagotavljanje operativnih in načrtovalskih vrednosti;
- uporabo teoretičnega in dejanskega znanja o človeški fiziologiji za analizo, interpretacijo in posredovanje podatkov o eksperimentalni fiziologiji;
- uporabo veščin načrtovanja eksperimentov za razumevanje odzivov populacije in interpretacijo kvantitativnih podatkov;
- natančno in jedrnato razlago fizioloških procesov v obliki revije in ustno, z uporabo ustrezne znanstvene terminologije in nomenklature;
- pisanje znanstvenih/projektovnih poročil in njihovo objavljanje za ciljno občinstvo; -
organizacijo/pomoč pri organizaciji različnih konferenc ali delavnic;
- uporabo delovnih metod za načrtovanje in izvedbo projekta.

Po uspešnem zaključku bo študent kompetenten za:
- uporabo svojega znanja za posredovanje ključne snovi tako pisno kot ustno;
- uporabo svojega znanja za izmenjavo idej in izkušenj z drugimi z ozadjem na predmetnem področju;
- učinkovito in sodelovalno delo v timskem okolju;
- vodenje kompleksnih tehničnih dejavnosti ali projektov ter prevzemanje odgovornosti za odločanje v nepredvidljivih kontekstih;
- demonstracijo iniciativnosti, osebne odgovornosti, spoštovanja do drugih in odgovornosti,
- kritično ovrednotenje znanstvenih dokazov in opredelitev raziskovalnega vprašanja; interdisciplinarno povezovanje znanja; zasnova metodologije raziskave; znanstveno komuniciranje in razvoj integralnega mišljenja.

Zavedal se bo pričakovanj profesionalnega delovnega okolja in izkazoval integriteto.

To prepare students to address the critical challenges of extreme environments.

General competences:
- ability to work independently as well as in teams,
- ability to use the knowledge in practice,
- and partially also to the development of an integral way of thinking and the ability to communicate with experts from other disciplines and fields.

Course-specific competences:
- mastering of methods and techniques of scientific research work in the field of extreme environments,
- critical thinking and analysis: critical appraisal of scientific evidence on human physiological responses to environmental stressors,
- research skills, including the design and execution of experiments for physiological and environmental monitoring: instrument calibration and validation, sampling design, and quality assurance of measurements in the field and in the laboratory,
- modeling and data analysis: time-series and frequency-domain analysis and statistical modeling of the relationships between environmental factors and physiological responses,
- interdisciplinary integration of knowledge (physiology, medicine, chemistry, physics, biology, engineering) together with adaptability and innovation in solving complex problems through practical case studies: a holistic understanding of the human-environment interaction and transfer of solutions between space and terrestrial environments.

Upon successful completion, the student will have the skills to:
- use complex equipment to record human physiological data and responses to experimental stimuli;
- use advanced analysis tools in the time and frequency domains to provide operational and design values for these;
- apply theoretical and factual knowledge of human physiology to analyse, interpret and communicate experimental physiology data;
- apply experimental design skills to understanding population responses and interpreting quantitative data;
- explain physiological processes accurately and concisely in journal-style format and orally, using relevant scientific terminology and nomenclature;
write scientific/projects reports and publish them for a targeted audience;
- organises/ helps in organising various conferences or workshops;
- use working methods to design and implement a project.

Upon successful completion, the student will have competence to:
- use their knowledge to convey key subject matter both in writing and orally;
- use their knowledge to exchange ideas and experiences with others with a background within the subject area;
- work effectively and collaboratively in a team environment;
- manage complex technical activities or projects, taking responsibility for decision-making in unpredictable contexts;
- demonstrate initiative, personal responsibility, respect for others and accountability;
- critical appraisal of scientific evidence and definition of a research question; interdisciplinary integration of knowledge; design of the research methodology; scientific communication and development of an integral way of thinking.

They will be aware of the expectations of a professional working environment and demonstrate integrity.

Predvideni študijski rezultati:
Intendeded learning outcomes:

Razumevanje:
• Razumevanje koncepta ekstremnih okolij.

Znanje o:
• zemeljskih analogih vesoljskih poletov, Marsu in Luni (mirovanje v postelji, suha potopitev, planetom podobna okolja), tveganjih, ki jih lahko preizkusijo, in njihovih omejitvah;
• vesoljski ergonomiji, vključno z interakcijo med človekom in robotom;
• sodelovanju z administracijami in zasebnimi podjetji.

Vrednotenje in sinteza:
• sposobnost analize oziroma presoje projektov s področja ekstremnih okolij;
• vzpostavitev sposobnosti komuniciranja v angleškem jeziku na področju ekstremnih okolij.

Understanding:
• Understanding the concept of extreme environments.

Knowledge of:
• Ground-based analogues of spaceflight, Mars and the Moon (bed rest, dry immersion, planet-like environments), the risks they can test, and their limitations.
• Space ergonomics, including human-robot interaction.
• How to cooperate with administrations and private companies.

Evaluation and synthesis:
• Ability to assess extreme environment projects.
• Establishing the ability to communicate in English in the field of extreme environments.

Metode poučevanja in učenja:
Learning and teaching methods:

Predavanja, laboratorijsko delo, terensko delo, individualno delo.

Lectures, laboratory work, field work, individual work.

Načini ocenjevanja:
Delež v % / Weight in %
Assesment:
Projekt
40 %
Project
Seminarska naloga
30 %
Seminar
Ustni izpit
30 %
Oral exam
Reference nosilca / Lecturer's references:
1. IOANNOU, Leonidas G., CIUHA, Urša, FISHER, Jason T., TSOUTSOUBI, Lydia, TOBITA, Kunihito, BONELL, Ana, COTTER, James D., KENNY, Glen P., FLOURIS, Andreas D., MEKJAVIĆ, Igor B. Novel technological advances to protect people who exercise or work in thermally stressful conditions : a transition to more personalized guidelines. Applied Sciences. 2023, vol. 13, no. 15, [article no.] 8561, str. 1-18. ISSN 1454-5101. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/15/8561, DOI: 10.3390/app13158561
2. CIUHA, Urša, VALENČIČ, Tamara, IOANNOU, Leonidas G., MEKJAVIĆ, Igor B. Efficacy of cooling vests based on different heat-extraction concepts : the HEAT-SHIELD project. Journal of Thermal Biology. [Print ed.]. 2023, vol. 112, str. 103442-1- 103442-10. ISSN 0306-4565. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2022.103442
3. VAN CUTSEM, Jeroen, PATTYN, Nathalie, MAIRESSE, Olivier, DELWICHE, Bérénice, FERNANDEZ TELLEZ, Helio, VAN PUYVELDE, Martine, LACROIX, Emilie, MCDONNELL, Adam, EIKEN, Ola, MEKJAVIĆ, Igor B. Adult female sleep during hypoxic bed rest. Frontiers in neuroscience. [Print ed.]. 2022, vol. 16, str. 852741-1-852741-16. ISSN 1662-4548. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.852741
4. ROYAL, Joshua T., FISHER, Jason T., MLINAR, Tinkara, MEKJAVIĆ, Igor B., MCDONNELL, Adam. Validity and reliability of capillary vs. venous blood for the assessment of haemoglobin mass and intravascular volumes. Frontiers in physiology. 24 Nov. 2022, vol. 13, [article no.] 1021588, str. 1-13, ilustr. ISSN 1664-042X. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1021588
5. TOBITA, Kunihito, MEKJAVIĆ, Igor B., MCDONNELL, Adam. Individual variation exists within the psychological response to hypoxic bed rest : a retrospective analysis. Frontiers in physiology. 2022, vol. 13, str. 810055-1-810055-11. ISSN 1664-042X. DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.810055