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Advances in neonatal care now enable more infants to be kept alive despite clear clinical evidence of inevitable or imminent death on a life-support system. It is therefore no longer acceptable to the society that a patient is left to die in the hospital, without any form of treatment or intervention. We report a case of severe birth asphyxia, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, neonatal seizures and left cephalohematoma. In spite of initial successful resuscitation, the infant could not survive until all possible methods of treatment were exhausted. This case illustrates one of many examples of the process involved in dealing with ending of life decision in a condition considered as futile.
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Objective To study mathematical model and to perform computer simulation for an important subsystem in the bioregenerative life support system(BLSS),i.e.,light-algae bioreactor(LABR)forcontinuously cultivating green microalgae andsignificantly maintaining life support function of BLSS.MethodsBased on the theories of system dynamics and stoichiometry,the mathematical model and simulation model of LABR were respectively established with experimental data,and then computer experiments were conducted to simulate dynamic responses of LABR under different parameters as well as their combinations.Results It was shown that the kinetic model of LABR was valid for its real-life counterpart by a series of verification tests.It could reliably and beneficially provede technical and methodologcal helps for further investigations of LABR,such as theoretical analysis,design,control and optimization,and so on.Conclusion With computer experiments based on mathematical model and simulation model,it decreases much more in time and money consumption for investigations than with real experiment.This method can also be extended to use in other subsystems studies of BLSS.
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Objective To investigate the characteristics of higher plant grown in red and/or blue light and test the capability of red and/or blue light emitting diodes(LEDs) used as the artificial lights for plant growth in controlled ecological life support system(CELSS).Methods Lettuce(Lactuca sativa var.Youmaicai) was cultivated in sole white LED,sole red LED and combined red and blue LEDs,respectively.Its growing status,physiological characteristics and the content of nutrients were evaluated,which were adopted to select the best combination of red and blue LED for plant growth.Results Red light promoted the radial growth of lettuce plants,and blue light was propitious to their transverse extension and synthesis of chlorophyll and carotenoid;lettuce plants couldn't grow normally in sole red light;with the gradual increase of blue light proportion(5%~20%),there were some active effects on the growth of lettuce plants,for instance,the improvement of photosynthesis,transpiration and fluorescence(Fo,Fv/Fm and qN),the increasing of contents of chlorophyll,carotenoid and nutrients and the enhancement of total biomass;the adverse effects of blue LED on the growing of lettuce plants appeared gradually with the addition of blue light(25%~50%).Its biomass of shoot decreased significantly,which induced the increase of the ratio of root/shoot.Conclusion The combined red and blue LEDs is propitious to lettuce(var.Youmaicai) growth and the best lighting condition is the combined 90% red and 10% blue light.
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Objective To investigate the characteristic of growth and development of vegetable at hypobaric environment and offer the cultivating technique of controlled ecological life support system for higher plant.Methods The means of comparative measurement was adopted to study the growth and physiological characteristic of lettuce under low and normal pressure(40.0 kPa,101.0 kPa),which was carried out with the low pressure plant-cultivating facility.Results Compared with normal pressure,germination rate of lettuce seed was eliminated by 7.62% under total pressure 40.0 kPa and oxygen partial pressure 8.4 kPa conditions;harvest time of lettuce was delayed,so biomass harvested at the same time reduced by 13.67% and content of total saccharide declined;the average rates of photosynthesis and transpiration were lower than those at normal pressure in 30 days after planting(DAP),but which reversed after that;release of C2H4 and shoot height reduced by 38.79% and 11.68%,but leaf area,ratio of root to total biomass and root vigor increased by 15.43%,2.57% and 40.53%,respectively.Conclusion Seed germination,growth and development of lettuce are affected in some degree at total pressure 40.0 kPa and oxygen partial pressure 8.4 kPa,some measures should be adopted to regulate the growth of lettuce.
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To realize long-term long distance space exploring flight,the bioregenerative life support system has to be applied.Producing animal protein in this system could increase its closure ability and stability.In this paper,researches and developments on the animal protein production in the bioregenerative life support system from various countries including our research results were introduced in detail through information analyses.The prospects in the future studies were also predicted.It has important references for our country to carry out related investigations.
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With the development of space exploration,high performance extravehicular activity(EVA) space suit portable life support system(PLSS) is expected.In this paper,the research progress of PLSS for EVA is introduced.The techniques of CO2 removal system and H2O removal system are key parts of PLSS.These concepts are compared and analyzed.Prospects of development of PLSS are proposed.Those mature,reliable techniques should be adopted for our country.Regenerative PLSS facilities should be investigated simultaneously.
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Objective To develop a prototype of low pressure plant-cultivating facility, for studying the growing technique of higher plants under low pressure in manned deep space exploration, so as to lay foundations for establishing controlled ecological life support system (CELSS) in low pressure environment. Methods According to detailed demonstration of technical plan, blueprint design and machining of components, facility installment, debugging, trial operations and verification experiments were carried out. Results Two sets of low pressure plant-cultivating facilities were manufactured, both of them could be used to cultivate higher plant under low or normal pressure. They worked stably and their technical parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, O2 partial pressure, CO2 partial pressure and water content of matrix were all monitored and controlled effectively. Conclusion Their main technical indexes meet design and experimental requirements, low pressure plant-cultivating experiments can be carried out with the facilities effectively.
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Objective To study a technology for separating water from gas under microgravity in long-term manned space flight.Methods Several kinds of mixture of water and oxygen were separated by a new water/gas separating matrix and the action of gravity on the process was studied.Results The water/gas separator worked well in the range of gas flow below 2 500 mL/min and water flow below 4～6 L/h.A mixture of gas and water was separated into gas containing no water containing less than 1% gas.The phenomenon of a little oxygen existing in the water flow was explained.It was also found that gravity has nothing to do with the separation.Conclusion Hydrophilic porous membrane can be used to separate water from gas,and further works were continue needed to study the process and to resolve a few problems about water/gas separation under microgravity.
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Objective To study the cultivating technique of wheat under low pressures as to establish the basis of developing hypobaric controlled ecological life support system.Methods Wheat growing experiments under normal and low pressure(101 kPa,50 kPa) were carried out with low pressure plant-cultivating facilities,and the growing indexes of wheat under low pressure,such as photosynthetic rate,transpiration rate,growing status,yield and nutrient contents in seeds were compared with those under normal pressure.Results Wheat grew normally under low pressure as compared with those grown under normal pressure,but low pressure curled leaves of the wheat and caused them to turn yellow at prophase;after 15 d treatment under hypobaric condition,the average rates of photosynthesis and transpiration increased by 9.23%and 11.54% respectively;shoot height of wheat decreased,both tiller number of each plant and the ratio of root in whole plant increased,but harvest time was delayed for about 5 d under low pressure;the biomass and the yield of wheat increased by 5.46% and 4.39% respectively,the contents of protein and total saccharide in seeds also enhanced at reduced pressure,but other nutrient contents in seeds had no significant difference between 101 kPa and 50 kPa.Conclusion Growth of wheat is promoted in certain degree by low atmospheric pressure.
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Preliminary research and partial satellite carrying experiment were firstly carried out,so as to research the technique of environmental control and life support system(ECLSS)of Chinese manned spacecraft.Environmental control and life support sub-system of "Shenzhou" spacecraft were developed subsequently,and the technique of physical/chemical regenerative ECLSS and controlled ecological life support system(CELSS)were also researched gradually.This paper introduced the research and development of ECLSS of Chinese manned spacecraft,and discussed the technical character of ECLSS.
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Objective A foundation for one of the biological components,Spirulina,to be applied in Controlled Ecological Life Support System(CELSS)would be laid with exploring effects of ionization radiation on the growth of Spirulina.Methods By using the ?-rays of ~(60)Co,Spirulina were irradiated.The dose of the ionization radiation covered 0,0.5,1.0,1.5,2.0,2.5,3.0 kGy.After irradiated,these Spirulina were cultured under the same conditions.The growth state,shape change,photodensity change,photosynthetic efficiency(O2 produced),and trophic physiological indexes of Spirulina or its solution,were observed,measured and analyzed.Its anti-irradiation ability was investigated.Results After irradiared with ~(60)Co ray,the growth rate,photosynthetic O2 produced efficiency,length of fila and other trophic physiological indexes were all affected in certain degree,but as compared to the higher plants,Spirulina have stronger radiation proof and self-rehabilitation capacity.Even if under high radiation condition(3.0 kGy),there was no complete death of cells,and the dose resulted in 50% death of the Spirulina was 2.0 kGy.Conclusion Spirulina has stronger ionization radiation proof and self-rehabilitation capacity,it can be considered as one of the key biological components in CELSS for future long-term space missions.
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Objective To monitor state of environment control and life support system (ECLSS), and to diagnose faults and provide decision support in manned space flight. Methods According to the principle of decision support system, neural networks and the expert system, the foundational constructional structure and work flow of the ECLSS decision support system(EDSS) were designed,fault tree analyze(FTA) method was used to sort all of the faults and to form the expert knowledge framework, expert system and neural networks were integrated to adaptive learning from experience. Results In the two-men-five-days SZ-6 manned space flight, this software system worked well, and had reduced the difficulty and intensity of ground flight control and had provided good technological support for the consummation of this flight. Conclusion For the first time, the ECLSS decision support system is designed and implemented by using database and expert system technology. It can judge parameters state and diagnose faults exactly and rapidly, and the data models are designed correctly to give the rational result of parameter prediction.
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Objective To select suitable vegetable for use in Controlled Ecological Life Support System for future long-term space missions. Method Five crops of lettuce(four Lactuca sativa L. var.crispa L.and one Lactuca sativa L. var.longifolia Lam), two crops of spinach(Spinacia oleracea L.), one rape(B.napus L.)and one common sowthisthe (Sonchus Oleraceus L.)were grown in a Controlled Ecological Life Support Technique Experimental System. Hydroponic nutrient solution, light, temperature and relative humidity were regulated, CO_2 levels were controlled at 500, 1 000, 1500 and 2 000 ?mol/mol, and light intensity were controlled at 100, 300, 500 and 700 ?mol/(m2?s). Canopy photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and leaf aera were measured on day after planted (DAP) 25 and 30. Plants were harvested at maturity, and analyzed for total fresh weigh and proximate composition (crude fiber,nitrite and ?-carotene). Result Three crops of lettuce “nenlvnaiyou”, “dasusheng”,“youmaicai” ,and one common sowthisthe were selected. The favorite CO_2 concentration and light intensity 2 000 ?mol/mol, and 700 ?mol/(m2?s) respectively.Conclusion The four crops selected have high productivity, photosynthetic rates and transpiration rates, which can be considered as the basis of the vegetables to be used for future long-term space missions.
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Objective To establish a numerical model of adsorption and desorption of CO_2 and to study the influencing factors on the removal system. Method A physical model was expressed by mathematical method, then an isothermal adsorption model for simulating molecular sieve was established. Result The working process of a CO_2 removed device was simulated and its result was analized with the established model.The characteristics of the adsorption and desorption was obtained. Conclusion The model describes the processes correctly, the influencing factors like humidity dimension of the bed are considered simultaneously.It remains to be improved by further experimental corrections.
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Controlled Ecological Life-support System(CELSS)is one of the key technologies that must be solved before founding permanent base in space such as Lunar or Mars base.After discussing with Russian experts and analysing the data,the author introduced something important about CELSS in Russia,including research methods,achievements and problems to be solved urgently.In the end a proposal for developing CELSS research in China was given based on them.
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BACKGROUND: We have hypothesized that, if a low resistant gravity-flow membrane oxygenator is used, then the twin blood sacs of TPLS can be located at downstream of the membrane oxyenator, which may double the pulse rate at a given pump rate and increase the pump output. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal configuration for the ECLS circuits by using the concept of pulse energy and pump output. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Animals were randomly assigned to 2 groups in a total cardiopulmonary bypass model. In the serial group, a conventional membrane oxygenator was located between the twin blood sacs. In the parallel group, the twin blood sacs were placed downstream of the gravity-flow membrane oxygenator. Energy equivalent pressure (EEP) and pump output were collected at pump-setting rates of 30, 40, and 50 BPM. RESULT: At the given pump-setting rate, the pulse rate was doubled in the parallel group. Percent changes of mean arterial pressure to EEP were 13.0+/-1.7, 12.0+/-1.9 and 7.6+/-0.9% in the parallel group, and 22.5+/-2.4, 23.2+/-1.9, and 21.8+/-1.4% in the serial group at 30, 40, and 50 BPM of pump-setting rates. Pump output was higher in the parallel circuit at 40 and 50 BPM of pump-setting rates (3.1+/-0.2, 3.7+/-0.2 L/min vs. 2.2+/-0.1 and 2.5+/-0.1 L/min, respectively, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Either parallel or serial circuit configuration of the ECLS generates effective pulsatility. As for the pump out, the parallel circuit configuration provides higher flow than the serial circuit configuration.