If humans are to live permanently in space, regenerative life support systems are an enabling technology and must replace the picnic approach of taking all supplies required for each mission. These systems are classified by technologies as either physical/chemical or bioregenerative. Both of these system-types can recycle water, remove carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and recover essential elements from waste products. Bioregenerative can also produce food, thus, making it essential if humans are to exist in space independent of earth. A solely bioregenerative life support system includes plants as a biomass production module and microbial organisms in bioreactors as a resource recovery module. In the Advanced Life Support Program, bioregenerative life support systems are being investigated through a research and technology development project which includes large scale testing as part of the Breadboard Project and human tests conducted in the soon to be constructed BioPlex facility. Research and technology development efforts are directed toward optimizing biomass productivity in controlled chambers by developing light weight, energy efficient, and automated systems; recycling liquid and solid wastes; baselining the operation of bioreactors; determining system microbial stability; assessing chemical contamination; and building models required for long term system operations. The program will include space flight studies in the near future to determine if these life support technologies will function in microgravity. When a bioregenerative system is finally incorporated into a mission, the conversion from a picnic and resupply mentality to permanent recycling and independence from earth will be complete.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Point-of-care ultrasound in the diagnosis of hepatic gas gangrene.
J Ultrasound
January 2025
Argentinian Critical Care Ultrasonography Association (ASARUC), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Hepatic gas gangrene (HGG) is a rare but life-threatening condition typically caused by anaerobic bacteria such as Clostridium perfringens, though Gram-negative bacteria like Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species have also been implicated. Traditionally diagnosed via computed tomography (CT), point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as a valuable tool in critical care settings for its non-invasive, bedside utility. We report the case of a 51-year-old female with choledochal syndrome secondary to cholangiocarcinoma who developed HGG following left extended hepatectomy and biliary reconstruction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF18F-Sodium Fluoride PET/CT as a Tool to Assess Enthesopathies in X-Linked Hypophosphatemia.
Calcif Tissue Int
January 2025
Endocrinology Department, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Av. Diagonal Paraguay 262, Cuarto Piso, Santiago, Chile.
X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare metabolic disorder characterized by elevated FGF23 and chronic hypophosphatemia, leading to impaired skeletal mineralization and enthesopathies that are associated with pain, stiffness, and diminished quality of life. The natural history of enthesopathies in XLH remains poorly defined, partly due to absence of a sensitive quantitative tool for assessment and monitoring. This study investigates the utility of 18F-NaF PET/CT scans in characterizing enthesopathies in XLH subjects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHow low should we go? Outcomes of ECMO in neonates with low gestational age or birth weight.
Pediatr Surg Int
January 2025
Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, PO Box 100119, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0119, USA.
Purpose: Initial recommendations for ECMO had relative contraindications for low birth weight (BW) or low gestational age (GA) babies. However, more recent literature has demonstrated improved and acceptable outcomes of ECMO in smaller neonates. The purpose of this study was to understand both utilization and survival in patients with lower GA and BW.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSuccessful Radical Resection Of Masaoka Iii Squamous Cell Thymic Carcinoma Invading Superior Vena Cava And Right Atrium - Case Report.
Port J Card Thorac Vasc Surg
January 2025
Thoracic Surgery Department, Pulido Valente Hospital, CHULN, Lisbon, Portugal.
Introduction: Complete radical resection is crucial for successfully treating thymic carcinomas. However, when the invasion of the great vessels or the heart in Masaoka III and IV stages occurs, the management poses more challenges. The R0 resection often requires neoadjuvant treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAre breast cancer patients with low distress at diagnosis at risk of psychological symptoms later in their disease trajectory? Considerations for when to screen for distress.
Acta Oncol
January 2025
Psychological Aspects of Cancer, Cancer Survivorship, The Danish Cancer Institute, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Introduction: To target psychological support to cancer patients most in need of support, screening for psychological distress has been advocated and, in some settings, also implemented. Still, no prior studies have examined the appropriate 'dosage' and whether screening for distress before cancer treatment may be sufficient or if further screenings during treatment are necessary. We examined the development in symptom trajectories for breast cancer patients with low distress before surgery and explored potential risk factors for developing burdensome symptoms at a later point in time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!