Life Support and Habitation Systems: Crew Support and Protection for Human Exploration Missions Beyond Low Earth Orbit

Life Support and Habitation Systems (LSHS) is one of 10 Foundational Domains as part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration s proposed Enabling Technology Development and Demonstration (ETDD) Program. LSHS will develop and mature technologies to sustain life on long duration human missions beyond Low Earth Orbit that are reliable, have minimal logistics supply and increase self-sufficiency. For long duration exploration missions, further closure of life support systems is paramount, including focus on key technologies for atmosphere revitalization, water recovery, waste management, thermal control and crew accommodation that recover additional consumable mass, reduce requirements for power, volume, heat rejection, crew involvement, and which have increased reliability and capability. Other areas of focus include technologies for radiation protection, environmental monitoring and fire protection. Beyond LEO, return to Earth will be constrained. The potability of recycled water and purity of regenerated air must be measured and certified aboard the spacecraft. Missions must be able to recover from fire events through early detection, use of non-toxic suppression agents, and operation of recovery systems that protect on-board Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) hardware. Without the protection of the Earth s geomagnetic field, missions beyond LEO must have improved radiation shielding and dosimetry, as well as warning systems to protect the crew against solar particle events. This paper will describe plans for the new LSHS Foundational Domain and mission factors that will shape its technology development portfolio

Radiometer offsets and count conversion coefficients for the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) spacecraft for the years 1984, 1985, and 1986

A compendium is presented of the ground and inflight scanner and nonscanner offsets and count conversion (gain) coefficients used for the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) production processing of data from the ERBS, NOAA-9, and NOAA-10 satellites for the 1 Nov. 1984 to 31 Dec. 1986

The Effects of 15 Minutes vs. 30 Minutes of Moderate Intensity Exercise on Lymphocytes, Monocytes and Granulocytes

Vigorous intensity exercise lasting 30 minutes or longer is well known to increase white blood cells, including lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes, in blood. White blood cells are cells of the immune system that provide protection against infection and disease. However, the relative effects of 15 minutes vs 30-minutes of moderate intensity exercise on these variables are not known. PURPOSE: Compare 15 minutes vs 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on the mobilization of white blood cells including lymphocytes (LYM), monocytes (MONO), and granulocytes (GRAN). METHODS: 9 healthy men and women across physical fitness levels were recruited (4 female, (mean ± standard deviation): 28.1 ± 9.7 years old). Following a 5-minute warm-up, participants were prescribed a 30-minute (min) exercise on a stationary bike at a moderate intensity (55% of heart rate reserve, calculated by (maximum heart rate - resting heart rate) × 55% of resting heart rate). A blood sample taken before, after 15 min, and after 30 min of exercise. Blood samples were analyzed with a hematology analyzer. Paired T tests were used to compare LYM, MONO, and GRAN between pre-exercise and 15 min exercise, and between 15 min and 30 min exercise. RESULTS: The number of LYM was greater at 15 min compared to pre-exercise (pre mean ± standard deviation: 2.12 x 103 ± 0.68 x 103 cells/μl, 15 min: 2.88 x 103 ± 1.22 x 103 cells/μl, p=.007). The number of MONO was greater at 15 min compared to pre (pre: 0.43 x 103 ± 0.12 x 103 cells/μl, 15 min: 0.61 x 103 ± 0.19 x 103 cells/μl, p= .006). The number of GRAN was greater at 15 min compared to pre (pre: 2.86 x 103 ± 0.60 x 103 cells/μl, 15 min: 4.00 x 103 ± 0.82 x 103 cells/μl, p= .002). On the other hand, the number of LYM, MONO, and GRAN in blood did not differ between 15 min and 30 min (all p\u3e.05). CONCLUSION: Cycling for just 15 minutes at a moderate intensity showed mobilization of the white blood cells (lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes) into blood circulation. If used in the clinical setting, this has the potential to complement current medical therapies, giving patients with diseases and infections a stronger chance for recovery. However, this requires further investigation

Systems leadership in practice: thematic insights from three public health case studies.

BACKGROUND: 'Systems leadership' has emerged as a key concept in global public health alongside such related concepts as 'systems thinking' and 'whole systems approaches.' It is an approach that is well suited to issues that require collective action, where no single organisation can control the outcomes. While there is a growing literature on the theory of systems leadership in a number of fields, there remains a lack of published empirical studies of public health systems leadership for professionals to learn from. The aim of the current project was to conduct cases studies in UK public health to provide empirical evidence on the nature of effective systems leadership practice. METHODS: Three system leadership case studies were identified in the key domains of public health: health protection, healthcare public health and health improvement. A total of 27 semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were thematically analysed to identify the components of effective systems leadership in each case and its impact. RESULTS: The thematic analysis identified themes around 'getting started,' 'maintaining momentum' and 'indicators of success' in systems leadership. In terms of getting started, the analysis showed that both a compelling 'call to action' and assembling an effective 'coalition of the willing' are important. To maintain momentum, the analysis identified themes relating to system structure, culture and the people involved. Regarding culture, the main themes that emerged were the importance of nurturing strong relationships, curiosity and a desire to understand the system, and promoting resilience. The analysis identified three components that could be used as indicators of success; these were a sense of enjoyment from the work, resource gains to the system and shifts in data indicators at the population level. CONCLUSIONS: This study has provided insight into the nature of systems leadership in public health settings in the UK. It has identified factors that contribute to effective public health systems leadership and offers a thematic model in terms of establishing a systems leadership approach, maintaining momentum and identifying key success indicators

The Ability of Cardiac Autonomic Modulations Stress Index to Independently Predict VO2max in Cardiometabolically Healthy Individuals

Cardiac autonomic modulation (CAM) is crucial for heart health, mediated by the sympathetic and autonomic systems (SAS). The link between CAM and aerobic exercise underscores the importance of aerobic fitness assessments in optimizing training to enhance performance. Heart rate variability (HRV) assesses CAM in various healthy populations, with the Stress Index (SI) identified as key in determining the SAS regulation involvement in performance and recovery outcomes. The SI may provide a quick and non-invasive metric to assess aerobic performance. PURPOSE: To determine if the SI can accurately predict aerobic performance via VO2max in healthy individuals free of metabolic diseases. METHODS: fifty cardiometabolically healthy individuals (n = 30 males, n = 20 females; Age 37.8 + 12.7 years, %BF 24.9 + 4.0) completed a single maximal treadmill exercise protocol to determine VO2max. HRV was measured for 5 minutes in the supine position prior to performing the exercise protocol using an elastic belt and Bluetooth monitor (Polar H7). CardioMood software was used to process HRV indices; SI, high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), and total power (TP) were assessed for the frequency domain, and standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDNN) and the square root of the mean of the squares of successive R-R interval differences (RMSSD) for the time domain. The data was analyzed using a multiple correlation and linear regression between HRV indices and VO2max to determine the relationship between the two. All analyses were performed using SAS (v. 28.0.1.1). RESULTS: HRV indices SI was not significantly correlated to VO2max (r = -0.118, p = 0.414). Additionally, SI and all other HRV indices were not able to independently or combined predict VO2max (R2 = 0.014, p = 0.414). CONCLUSION: The utilization of HRV to assess CAM has proven beneficial in multiple clinical and athletic settings. However, the utilization of the SI to predict aerobic performance via VO2max does not appear to be significant. Thus, there are potential limitations to HRV to non-invasively assess aerobic performance

Radiometer offsets and count conversion coefficients for the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) spacecraft for the years 1987, 1988, and 1989

This document contains a compendium of the ground and in-flight scanner and non-scanner offsets and count conversion (gain) coefficients used for the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) production processing of data from the ERBS satellite for the period from 1 January 1987 to 31 December 1989; for the NOAA-9 satellite, for the month of January 1987; and for the NOAA-10 satellite, for the period from 1 January 1987 to 31 May 1989

Exploring leadership in multi-sectoral partnerships

This article explores some critical aspects of leadership in the context of multi-sectoral partnerships. It focuses on leadership in practice and asks the question, `How do managers experience and perceive leadership in such partnerships?' The study contributes to the debate on whether leadership in a multi-sectoral partnership context differs from that within a single organization. It is based on the accounts of practising managers working in complex partnerships. The article highlights a number of leadership challenges faced by those working in multi-sectoral partnerships. Partnership practitioners were clear that leadership in partnerships was more complex than in single organizations. However, it was more difficult for them to agree a consensus on the essential nature of leadership in partnership. We suggest that a first-, second- and third-person approach might be a way of better interpreting leadership in the context of partnerships

The illusion of competency versus the desirability of expertise: Seeking a common standard for support professions in sport

In this paper we examine and challenge the competency-based models which currently dominate accreditation and development systems in sport support disciplines, largely the sciences and coaching. Through consideration of exemplar shortcomings, the limitations of competency-based systems are presented as failing to cater for the complexity of decision making and the need for proactive experimentation essential to effective practice. To provide a better fit with the challenges of the various disciplines in their work with performers, an alternative approach is presented which focuses on the promotion, evaluation and elaboration of expertise. Such an approach resonates with important characteristics of professions, whilst also providing for the essential ‘shades of grey’ inherent in work with human participants. Key differences between the approaches are considered through exemplars of evaluation processes. The expertise-focused method, although inherently more complex, is seen as offering a less ambiguous and more positive route, both through more accurate representation of essential professional competence and through facilitation of future growth in proficiency and evolution of expertise in practice. Examples from the literature are also presented, offering further support for the practicalities of this approach