Exploration Mission Particulate Matter Filtration Technology Performance Testing in a Simulated Spacecraft Cabin Ventilation System

Human deep space exploration missions will require advances in long-life, low maintenance airborne particulate matter filtration technology. As one of the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations (NASA) developments in this area, a prototype of a new regenerable, multi-stage particulate matter filtration technology was tested in an International Space Station (ISS) module simulation facility. As previously reported, the key features of the filter system include inertial and media filtration with regeneration and in-place media replacement techniques. The testing facility can simulate aspects of the cabin environment aboard the ISS and contains flight-like cabin ventilation system components. The filtration technology test article was installed at the inlet of the central ventilation system duct and instrumented to provide performance data under nominal flow conditions. In-place regeneration operations were also evaluated. The real-time data included pressure drop across the filter stages, process air flow rate, ambient pressure, humidity and temperature. In addition, two video cameras positioned at the filtration technology test articles inlet and outlet were used to capture the mechanical performance of the filter media indexing operation under varying air flow rates. Recent test results are presented and future design recommendations are discussed

Filter Efficiency and Pressure Testing of Returned ISS Bacterial Filter Elements (BFEs)

The air quality control equipment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and future deep space exploration vehicles provide the vital function of maintaining a clean cabin environment for the crew and the hardware. This becomes a serious challenge in pressurized space compartments since no outside air ventilation is possible, and a larger particulate load is imposed on the filtration system due to lack of sedimentation. The ISS Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) system architecture in the U.S. Segment uses a distributed particulate filtration approach consisting of traditional High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters deployed at multiple locations in each U.S. Seg-ment module; these filters are referred to as Bacterial Filter Elements, or BFEs. In our previous work, we presented results of efficiency and pressure drop measurements for a sample set of two returned BFEs with a service life of 2.5 years. In this follow-on work, we present similar efficiency, pressure drop, and leak tests results for a larger sample set of six returned BFEs. The results of this work can aid the ISS Program in managing BFE logistics inventory through the stations planned lifetime as well as provide insight for managing filter element logistics for future exploration missions. These results also can provide meaningful guidance for particulate filter designs under consideration for future deep space exploration missions

Direct visualization reveals dynamics of a transient intermediate during protein assembly

Interactions between proteins underlie numerous biological functions. Theoretical work suggests that protein interactions initiate with formation of transient intermediates that subsequently relax to specific, stable complexes. However, the nature and roles of these transient intermediates have remained elusive. Here, we characterized the global structure, dynamics, and stability of a transient, on-pathway intermediate during complex assembly between the Signal Recognition Particle (SRP) and its receptor. We show that this intermediate has overlapping but distinct interaction interfaces from that of the final complex, and it is stabilized by long-range electrostatic interactions. A wide distribution of conformations is explored by the intermediate; this distribution becomes more restricted in the final complex and is further regulated by the cargo of SRP. These results suggest a funnel-shaped energy landscape for protein interactions, and they provide a framework for understanding the role of transient intermediates in protein assembly and biological regulation

Hydrogen bonding in 2,6-bis(4-fluorophenyl)-3,5-dimethylpiperidin-4-one methanol solvate

The crystal structure analysis of a 2,6-diaryl 4-piperidone derivative, isolated as a mono-methanol solvate, reveals that both the piperidone and the methanol molecule lie on a crystallographic mirror plane. A chair conformation is found for the piperidone ring with the aryl and methyl groups in equatorial positions. The most prominent feature of the molecular packing is the formation of supramolecular zigzag chains mediated by amine-N–H···O(methanol) and hydroxyl-O–H···N(amine) hydrogen bonds, i.e. the methanol molecule serves as a bridge between piperidone molecules. The molecular structure is compared with that determined in an unsolvated form and the gas-phase equilibrium structure, obtained using density-functional theory (DFT); differences relate, in the main, to the relative dispositions of the aryl rings. An analysis of the Hirshfeld surfaces of the experimental structures indicates very similar relative contributions with the notable exception being the contribution by O···H/H···O which at 13.7% in the methanol solvate is >8.5% in the unsolvated form

Cultivating Prosperity: Analyzing Marketing Challenges Encountered by Pomegranate Farmers in Tumkur District

This study presents an overview of the demographic characteristics and marketing practices of pomegranate farmers in Tumkur District, Karnataka, India. Data was collected through surveys and interviews conducted among male and female farmers, with a focus on age, landholding, education, income, and marketing practices. The findings reveal a predominantly young farming population, with the majority falling within the 31-45 years age group. The data also shows that both male and female farmers mainly possess small landholdings, typically between 2-5 acres. This suggests a prevalence of smallholder farming in the region. Regarding education, while primary education is the most common level of education among both genders, there is a significant portion of female farmers with no formal education, indicating potential disparities in educational opportunities between genders. Income distribution analysis indicates that the majority of farmers earn between INR 20,000 - 30,000 per month, with male farmers slightly earning more than their female counterparts. Analysis of marketing practices reveals a preference among both male and female farmers to sell their produce locally, with direct selling to consumers being more common among female farmers. Meanwhile, male farmers tend to engage more with wholesalers. The study also highlights a relatively low usage of online platforms for sales among both genders, suggesting an area for potential improvement in leveraging technology for marketing. This study provides valuable insights into the demographic profile and marketing practices of pomegranate farmers in Tumkur District, which can inform policy interventions and agricultural development programs

UTM Data Working Group Demonstration 1: Final Report

This document summarizes activities defining and executing the first demonstration of the NASA-FAA Research Transition Team (RTT) Data Exchange and Information Architecture (DEIA) working group (DWG). The demonstration focused on testing the interactions between two key components in the future UAS Traffic Management (UTM) System through a collaborative and distributed simulation of key scenarios. The summary incorporates written feedback from each of the participants in the demonstration. In addition to reporting the activities, this report also provides some insight into future steps of this working group

UTM UAS Service Supplier Development: Sprint 2 Toward Technical Capability Level 4

NASA's UAS Traffic Management (UTM) Project has been tasked with developing concepts and initial implementations for integrating and managing small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the low altitude airspace. To accomplish this task, the UTM Project planned a phased approach based on four Technical Capability Levels (TCLs). As of this writing, TCL4 is currently in development for a late Spring 2019 flight demonstration. This TCL is focused on operations in an urban environment and includes the handling of high density environments, large-scale off-nominal conditions, vehicle-to-vehicle communications, detect-and-avoid technologies, communication requirements, public safety operations, airspace restrictions, and other related goals. Through research and testing to date, NASA has developed an architecture for UTM that depends on commercial entities collaboratively providing services that are traditionally provided by the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) in manned aviation. A key component of this architecture is the UAS Service Supplier (USS), which acts as a communications bridge between UAS operators and the ANSP when necessary. In addition, the collection of USSs form a USS Network to collaboratively manage the airspace through the sharing of data and the adherence to a standard or set of standards required to participate in this USS Network. This document provides a record of the second of four planned steps in the development of interoperable USSs that will ultimately support TCL4 flight testing and formalization of the overall UTM concept. To develop these USSs and their underlying specifications, NASA has planned a series of "Sprints" to work with industry partners in implementing the features and develop proposed specifications for USSs in order to to participate in TCL4. This report describes Sprint Two. In this Sprint, there was a major theme with four goals. The theme was the development and testing of a new USS discovery system, to better enable USSs to find and communicate with each other. The goals supporting this theme were: participants needed to implement and exercise the discovery service for USS-USS communications; USSs needed to demonstrate strategic deconfliction through operation sharing; the systems were to use discovery to aid in handling off-nominal operations; and finally, there was an investigation of an initial off-nominal reporting capability

A Systematic and Evidence-Based Approach to the Management of Vertebral Metastasis

Diagnosis and management of vertebral metastasis requires a systematic approach to patient identification as well as selection of appropriate therapy. Rapid identification and prompt intervention in the treatment of malignant epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC) is key to maintaining quality of life. This paper provides a series of tools as well as guidance in selecting effective and evidence-based therapy individualized to the specific patient

UTM UAS Serivce Supplier Development: Sprint 1 Toward Technical Capability Level 4

NASA's UAS Traffic Management (UTM) Project has been tasked with developing concepts and initial implementations for integrating and managing small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the low altitude airspace. To accomplish this task, the Project planned a phased approach based on four Technical Capability Levels (TCLs). As of this writing, TCL4 is currently in development for a late Spring 2019 flight demonstration. This TCL is focused on operations in an urban environment and includes the handling of high density and large-scale off-nominal conditions, vehicle-to-vehicle communications, detect-and-avoid technologies, communication requirements, public safety operations, airspace restrictions, and other related goals. Through research and testing to date, NASA has developed an architecture for UTM that depends on commercial entities collaboratively providing services that are traditionally provided by the Air Navigation Service Provider(ANSP) in manned aviation. A key component of this architecture is the UAS Service Supplier (USS), which acts as a communications bridge between UAS operators and the ANSP when necessary. In addition, the collection of USSs form a USS Network to collaboratively manage the airspace through the sharing of data and the adherence to a standard or set of standards required to participate in this USS Network. This document provides a record of the first step in the development of interoperable USSs that will ultimately support TCL4 flight testing and formalization of the overall UTM concept. To develop these USSs and the underlying specifications for them, NASA has planned a series of "Sprints" to work with industry partners in implementing the features and proposed specifications for USSs to participate in TCL4. This report describes Sprint One. In this Sprint, the focus was on establishing a baseline for the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and their associated data models. In addition, the concept of UAS Volume Reservations (UVR) (areas that impose restrictions on sUAS that are allowed to operate) was tested. NASA provided the specifications and iterated on them with partners while implementers developed to those specifications. NASA then tested each partner's implementation to ensure compatibility with all other implementers. This process helped all stakeholders gain confidence that the foundation for future Sprints was solid