The following is copied from OAIS v1 (2002) and may be out of date

1 Life Sciences Data Archive

1.1 DOMAIN

What is the domain and who are the customers of the Archive and who are the producers of the data? What are the special features of this archive?

The Life Sciences Data Archive (LSDA) is responsible for collecting, cataloging, storing and making accessible the data of NASA funded Life Sciences space flight investigations. There are two general goals for NASA space life science research; one, to find counter measures to problems encountered by human bodies as a result of space flight, and two, to broaden the understanding of the effect of gravity on living systems. The LSDA’s designated consumer is the life sciences research community, but it is also used by students, educators and the general public. The data archived in the LSDA is produced by both intramural and extramural investigators funded to perform flight experiments through NASA grants. It is anticipated that the archive may grow to include data from investigations which are completely ground based.

The LSDA is a distributed archive with responsibilities distributed to LSDA Nodes at NASA Centers with life sciences activities. The LSDA Project Nodes at Ames Research Center (ARC), Kennedy Space Center (KSC), and Johnson Space Center (JSC) are responsible for the collection and cataloging of data. The LSDA Central Node is responsible for importing the data from the Project Nodes, integrating and providing access to the data via the World Wide Web. The Central Node is also responsible for maintaining the LSDA Data Dictionary and coordinating development and maintenance of the archiving system.

The LSDA contains animal, plant, and human space flight data. This archive is notable in that it contains a unique collection of data describing, in considerable detail, biology experiments carried out in space by NASA over the past thirty years. The nature of the data is highly varied and spans many life science disciplines.

The LSDA is also unique in that it provides both digital and non-digital information. The non-digital data may be either reproducible or non-reproducible. Examples of reproducible, non-digital data are video and audio tape. An example of non-reproducible, non-digital data is a biomedical sample.

1.2 INGEST PROCESS

Submission Agreements

There are two types of data producers to the LSDA: the NASA Flight Project offices that designs the hardware and flies the experiment, and the NASA-funded Principal Investigator (PI).

To acquire data from the NASA Flight Project offices, the LSDA Project Nodes work closely with them to acquire data during flight operations. The LSDA assists the NASA Flight Project Offices in distributing this data to the Principal Investigators and gathering it as an archival product. As the LSDA is relatively new (1993) there is also archiving of past missions being done on a funding available basis.

To acquire data from the NASA funded Principal Investigator, there are a couple of methods of data collection currently being used depending on the ‘age’ of the experiment. For previously flown experiments (prior to 1994) there is an informal submission agreement between the LSDA and the PIs that is based on cooperation, and is not binding. For experiments being selected for flight (after 1994) the funding agreements include a contractual stipulation that the Principal Investigator must supply the LSDA with raw data, analyzed data and a final science report.

These funding agreements are finalized when proposed investigations are selected for flight. At this time the PIs are sent a letter informing them, that upon acceptance of funding they will be responsible for delivering the data collected as part of their investigation in a form usable by the sciences community after their one year post flight proprietary period.

Submission of data to the LSDA begins one year post flight. To assist in data submission, the LSDA Project nodes send the Principal Investigator a Data Inventory package including forms and instructions. The Principal Investigator fills out the data inventory forms and returns them to the LSDA Project Node. The Project Node then contacts the PI to begin data submission. In order to clarify the ‘usable form’ requirement throughout the entire LSDA project, the LSDA is in the process of developing a post flight data reporting handbook which explains exactly how the data should be provided to the archive.

Typical Submission Session

A typical Submission Information Package (SIP) consists of two parts: 1) the Data Inventory forms, and 2) actual data or Content Information. The inventory forms are made up of Preservation Description Information (PDI) (i.e., treatments, parameters measured, research subjects and IDs, date/period of collection, collection location, analysis phase, comments) and Descriptive Information (i.e., title, description, keywords). The Content Information consists of physical samples, spreadsheets, final science reports, published articles, procedural documents, crew logs, photographs, video tapes, analog tapes, digital or printed images, and other types of digital data files (e.g., HRM).

Upon receipt by the LSDA the SIP will be cataloged with Descriptive and Packaging Information added, including; experiment and mission ID, Principal Investigator and Co-Investigators name, and other Descriptive information.

Collections

Several SIPs will then be combined to comprise an Archival Information Package (AIP) of one experiment. The Descriptive Information and PDI are entered into a database comprised of LSDA-approved fields and use valid values whenever possible. The Preservation Description Information is developed by the LSDA personnel at the LSDA Project Node responsible for obtaining the data. The Preservation Description Information provides layers of metadata for the data collection that describe the experiment, mission, hardware, personnel, sessions, biospecimen, and research subjects from which the data was collected.

It is anticipated that future uses of the archive will involve the creation of Archival Information Collections (AIC), combining several AIPs based on discipline or measured parameters.

Transformation Processes

In most cases the Content Information is kept in its original submitted form. Exceptions to this case include data submitted on outdated media requiring transfer to current media. As little transformation as possible is performed on the data at ingest in order to keep costs down and to insure the integrity of the data. There are some instances where the data has been collected in an application format that is not widely available and in this case the Project Node will transform the data into a more commonly accessible format. (e.g., spreadsheets created in Supernova are migrated to MS Excel).

After the AIP is created, the information goes through a validation process. This post-entry validation is accomplished by a second check of the data by the LSDA Project Node Manager. AIP validation is further ensured by sending the completed catalog entries to the data producer (Principal Investigator, Flight Project Offices) for verification. The data producer reviews the information, makes corrections or additions and sends the information back to the Project Node. Edits are then made to the records and the information is once again printed and sent to the data producer. This process is repeated until the Principal Investigator is satisfied that the experiment data is accurately represented. At this point the data producer signs and returns a verification letter to the Project Node. The AIP is now ready for review by the LSDA Project Scientist and LSDA Change Control Board before it is placed in the public record. The Projects upload the data to the Central Node, it is integrated into an intranet server available only to the LSDA CCB and this group, including the LSDA Project Scientist, reviews the data for overall form and cogency. After a two week review period the data is moved to the public web site unless change requests are logged by the LSDA CCB. If CRs are issued they are resolved before any of the data is made available to the public.

1.3 INTERNAL FORMS

Storage

The LSDA back-up and storage procedures vary between LSDA Node types. The LSDA Master Catalog and on-line data reside on a Microsoft SQL Server. These are backed up daily to tape. At the LSDA Project Nodes most of LSDA’s data and metadata are stored on magnetic disks and backed up to tape. Long term storage is provided on CD-ROM. Biospecimens are stored in -80 degree freezers.

AIPs are stored as a piece of Content Information (a spreadsheet, word processing document, strip chart or biospecimen) which is linked to the Descriptive Information which is stored in a database record. These AIPs are linked, through the database, into AICs via an Experiment Number. A space life sciences experiment is, in this sense, an AIC. It is a collection of tens or hundreds of AIPs.

Migration

The LSDA migration procedures are still in a developmental phase, but there is some ongoing data migration. LSDA Project Nodes are in the process of converting information on outdated media (RA60s, RL02s) to CD-ROM format.

Migration of application formats (e.g., MS-Excel) and in particular, version changes, is an area of concern. The cost of continually updating all LSDA spreadsheets to the current versions is prohibitive, and storing and making available the application is also expensive and complicated. A universal read-only format such as Adobe PDF might be the solution, but it is a proprietary format and as such, its life span is uncertain.

1.4 ACCESS

Finding Aids.Users access the LSDA through the World Wide Web (WWW) (http://lsda.jsc.nasa.gov/) where they search and retrieve information via the Master Catalog. The Master Catalog is a relational database with a WWW forms interface, and it allows users to search Descriptive Information across experiments and Missions to find data that meets their search criteria. Users can search within ten information groups; Experiments, Missions, Data Sets, Hardware, Documents, Personnel, Specimen or Subjects, Data Collection Sessions, Biospecimens, and Images.

There is currently no method available for searching data at a ‘sub-AIP’ level. The AIP record contains a considerable amount of detailed, searchable data so that a collection of AIPs could be found for a particular manual sub-search.

Event Based Order. The LSDA does not support event based orders (or subscriptions) since the Master Catalog is accessible to all users. Most data is made accessible to the user through links in the catalog to an anonymous FTP site from which the data is downloaded. If data are in non-digital format, but are reproducible (i.e., hardcopy documents, or log books), users may request them through on-line ordering forms available in the Master Catalog. The requested information is reproduced via photocopying and shipped US Mail to the requester. There is an e-mail update notification service offered to users.

Media/Formats. The LSDA provides some data on CD-ROM format, but otherwise most data is provided on-line. The LSDA also contains unique non-reproducible pieces of data such as microscope slides and space flight biospecimens. These unique resources are provided to a requester after a scientific proposal has successfully undergone peer review. Biospecimens are used to produce original data which is then ingested into the archive.

Pricing Policies. LSDA data that has been verified and cleared for release is available to the public, free of cost, through the Internet. If significant requests are generated for hardcopy documents, a processing fee for copying the document may be charged. As yet this has not been determined. In the future CD-ROMs may be generated for providing large data sets. These CDs would be priced for cost recovery only.

1.5 COMMON SERVICES

Customer Service/Support.The LSDA provides user support for questions and problems concerning the Master Catalog (on-line data request system) and for science questions about the data being provided. The primary means of user feedback and support is through the LSDA Central Node. Questions are addressed to the LSDA through on-line ‘What do you think?’ links located throughout the system. From these links a WWW forms interface allows users to submit questions. Specific questions about the Content Information are currently answered by the NASA Life Sciences Acquisition Scientist and the LSDA Program Scientist. Questions which can not be answered by these individuals are forwarded to the LSDA Project Node which collects the data. In some instances questions are forwarded to the Principal Investigator or NASA Flight Project Office.

Security. Overall security procedures stipulate that all digital data are backed up on a daily basis with off-site storage. Data on magneto-optical disks are stored in a locked file cabinet in a cipher locked room. Access to on-line servers is controlled through the use of password and/or address port filtering. Only data that is fully validated and approved for release is placed on publicly accessible servers.

The LSDA does not have any special security concerns for access to the Central Node. It is available to anyone with access to the WWW.

The LSDA has strict security measures for data from human subjects which require sensitivity and secure handling due to the Human Data Privacy Act. Only mean-pooled human data is made available to the public.