the National Overactive BLadder Evaluation (NOBLE) Program was initiated to better understand the prevalence and burden of overactive bladder in a broad spectrum of the United States population.
to ...estimate the prevalence of overactive bladder with and without urge incontinence in the US, assess variation in prevalence by sex and other factors, and measure individual burden.
US national telephone survey using a clinically validated interview and a follow-up nested study comparing overactive bladder cases to sex- and age-matched controls.
noninstitutionalized US adult population.
a sample of 5,204 adults >/=18 years of age and representative of the US population by sex, age, and geographical region.
prevalence of overactive bladder with and without urge incontinence and risk factors for overactive bladder in the US. In the nested case-control study, SF-36, CES-D, and MOS sleep scores were used to assess impact.
the overall prevalence of overactive bladder was similar between men (16.0%) and women (16.9%), but sex-specific prevalence differed substantially by severity of symptoms. In women, prevalence of urge incontinence increased with age from 2.0% to 19% with a marked increase after 44 years of age, and in men, increased with age from 0.3% to 8.9% with a marked increase after 64 years of age. Across all age groups, overactive bladder without urge incontinence was more common in men than in women. Overactive bladder with and without urge incontinence was associated with clinically and significantly lower SF-36 quality-of-life scores, higher CES-D depression scores, and poorer quality of sleep than matched controls.
the NOBLE studies do not support the commonly held notion that women are considerably more likely than men to have urgency-related bladder control problems. The overall prevalence of overactive bladder does not differ by sex; however, the severity and nature of symptom expression does differ. Sex-specific anatomic differences may increase the probability that overactive bladder is expressed as urge incontinence among women compared with men. Nonetheless, overactive bladder, with and without incontinence, has a clinically significant impact on quality-of-life, quality-of-sleep, and mental health, in both men and women.
Chalcogenide glasses are one of the most versatile materials that have been widely researched because of their flexible optical, chemical, electronic, and phase change properties. Their application ...is usually in the form of thin films, which work as active layers in sensors and memory devices. In this work, we investigate the formulation of nanoparticle ink of Ge-Se chalcogenide glasses and its potential applications. The process steps reported in this work describe nanoparticle ink formulation from chalcogenide glasses, its application via inkjet printing and dip-coating methods and sintering to manufacture phase change devices. We report data regarding nanoparticle production by ball milling and ultrasonication along with the essential characteristics of the formed inks, like contact angle and viscosity. The printed chalcogenide glass films were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The printed films exhibited similar compositional, structural, electronic and optical properties as the thermally evaporated thin films. The crystallization processes of the printed films are discussed compared to those obtained by vacuum thermal deposition. We demonstrate the formation of printed thin films using nanoparticle inks, low-temperature sintering and proof for the first time, their application in electronic and photonic temperature sensors utilizing their phase change property. This work adds chalcogenide glasses to the list of inkjet printable materials, thus offering an easy way to form arbitrary device structures for optical and electronic applications.
Resumption of operations at the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) facility at Idaho National Laboratory was approved in 2014 to meet U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy objectives in ...transient testing of nuclear fuels. In parallel, the National Nuclear Security Administration, through the Office of Material Management and Minimization, is converting TREAT from its existing highly enriched uranium core to a low-enriched uranium core. This effort entails designing, fabricating, and qualifying a new TREAT low-enriched uranium fuel assembly, while maintaining TREAT’s experimental performance capabilities. Zircaloy-4 is being evaluated as TREAT low-enriched uranium assembly material. A preliminary study on the room temperature mechanical properties of as-received and electron beam welded Zircaloy-4 sheet (1.6mm) is presented. The sheet was high-vacuum electron beam welded using a three-pass process with varying heat input: (1) tack welding (10.5J/mm), (2) seams welded (36.7J/mm), and (3) sealed (15.7J/mm). As-received and electron beam welded specimens show comparable properties. Zircaloy-4 displays anisotropy between the transverse and longitudinal directions. Tensile properties measured for the transverse direction display higher yield strength, reduction of area, and slightly lower tensile strength and ductility than for the longitudinal (i.e., rolling) direction. Weld and base metal hardness are comparable, while hardness at the heat-affected-zone is slightly higher. Microscopic examinations show distinct microstructure morphology and grain size from weld to base metal. A correlation between welding parameters, mechanical properties, and microstructural features was established for electron beam welded Zircaloy-4 sheet.
Anthropogenic activities, including combustion of fossil fuels, coal, and gold mining, are significant sources of mercury (Hg) emissions into aquatic ecosystems. South Africa is a major contributor ...to global Hg emissions (46.4 tons Hg in 2018), with coal-fired power stations as the main source. Atmospheric transport of Hg emissions is the dominant cause of contamination, especially on the east coast of southern Africa where the Phongolo River Floodplain (PRF) is located. The PRF is the largest floodplain system in South Africa, with unique wetlands and high biodiversity, and provides essential ecosystem services to local communities who rely on fish as a protein source. We assessed the bioaccumulation of Hg in various biota, the trophic positions and food webs, as well as the biomagnification of Hg through the food webs in the PRF. Elevated Hg concentrations were found in sediments, macroinvertebrates and fish from the main rivers and associated floodplains in the PRF. Mercury biomagnification was observed through the food webs, with the apex predator tigerfish, Hydrocynus vittatus, having the highest Hg concentration. Our study shows that Hg in the PRF is bioavailable, accumulates in biota and biomagnifies in food webs.
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•First study to report Hg in different matrices in South Africa's largest floodplain.•Bioaccumulation and biomagnification associated with Hg in rivers and wetlands.•Trophic magnification occurred with highest Hg levels in apex predator H. vittatus.•Changes in tropic position in intraspecific species among sampling sites.•Aerial deposition major contributor of elevated Hg levels in Phongolo River Floodplain.
Eukarya have been discovered in the deep subsurface at several locations in South Africa, but how organisms reach the subsurface remains unknown. We studied river-subsurface fissure water systems and ...identified Eukarya from a river that are genetically identical for 18S rDNA. To further confirm that these are identical species one metazoan species recovered from the overlying river interbred successfully with specimen recovered from an underlying mine at -1.4 km. In situ seismic simulation experiments were carried out and show seismic activity to be a major force increasing the hydraulic conductivity in faults allowing organisms to create ecosystems in the deep subsurface. As seismic activity is a non-selective force we recovered specimen of algae and Insecta that defy any obvious other explanation at a depth of -3.4 km. Our results show there is a steady flow of surface organisms to the deep subsurface where some survive and adapt and others perish. As seismic activity is also present on other planets and moons in our solar system the mechanism elucidated here may be relevant for future search and selection of landing sites in planetary exploration.
Following the discovery of the first Eukarya in the deep subsurface, intense interest has developed to understand the diversity of eukaryotes living in these extreme environments. We identified that ...Platyhelminthes, Rotifera, Annelida and Arthropoda are thriving at 1.4 km depths in palaeometeoric fissure water up to 12,300 yr old in South African mines. Protozoa and Fungi have also been identified; however, they are present in low numbers. Characterization of the different species reveals that many are opportunistic organisms with an origin due to recharge from surface waters rather than soil leaching. This is the first known study to demonstrate the in situ distribution of biofilms on fissure rock faces using video documentation. Calculations suggest that food, not dissolved oxygen is the limiting factor for eukaryal population growth. The discovery of a group of Eukarya underground has important implications for the search for life on other planets in our solar system.
Post-irradiation examination of coated particle fuel from the AGR-1 experiment is in progress at Idaho National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. In this paper a brief summary of results ...from characterization of microstructures in the coating layers of selected irradiated fuel particles with burnup of 11.3% and 19.3% FIMA will be given. The main objectives of the characterization were to study irradiation effects, fuel kernel porosity, layer debonding, layer degradation or corrosion, fission-product precipitation, grain sizes, and transport of fission products from the kernels across the TRISO layers. Characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy were used. A new approach to microscopic quantification of fission-product precipitates is also briefly demonstrated. Microstructural characterization focused on fission-product precipitates in the SiC-IPyC interface, the SiC layer and the fuel-buffer interlayer. The results provide significant new insights into mechanisms of fission-product transport. Although Pd-rich precipitates were identified at the SiC-IPyC interlayer, no significant SiC-layer thinning was observed for the particles investigated. Characterization of these precipitates highlighted the difficulty of measuring low concentrations of Ag in precipitates with significantly higher concentrations of Pd and U. Different approaches to resolving this problem are discussed. An initial hypothesis is provided to explain fission-product precipitate compositions and locations. No SiC phase transformations were observed and no debonding of the SiC-IPyC interlayer as a result of irradiation was observed for the samples investigated. Lessons learned from the post-irradiation examination are described and future actions are recommended.
Needle-stick and sharps injuries are an occupational hazard in dental training institutions. The study aimed to quantify and describe the nature of Needle-stick and sharp injuries (NSI) at a Tertiary ...Teaching Oral Health Centre (TTOHC) in South Africa. An analytic, cross-sectional study was conducted among students engaged in clinical service and oral health staff supervising them at the Oral Health Centre, Gauteng, South Africa. An adapted 18-item self-administered questionnaire was provided to all students and staff. Standard ethical guidelines were followed according to institutional ethics committee approval (M171131). A response rate of 88% (n=73) was obtained from students, with the majority of participants being female(67%), dentistry students (88 %), aged between 18-25 years, in their fourth year of study (45%) while only 3.7% were final year oral hygiene students. The staff participants were dentists (80.6%) while most staff participants (88.3%) were employed for 3 years or less. The NSI prevalence at the TTOHC was 41.3% (n=45). The number of staff reporting the injury for both staff and students was recorded to be 80% (n = 36 of 45 injuries), with 77.3% of injured individuals receiving post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) against possible HIV-infection, however, more than a third (39%) reported not to have completed the PEP. The department in which the most NSIs occurred was Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery. Sharp injuries were mostly due to needle sticks. Most NSIs occurred among senior students with more clinical experiences and particularly during the early and late periods in a year. The prevalence of needle and sharp injuries was high and of concern. The sharps injury reporting rate was good, however, less than half of injured individuals completed the PEP treatment. The findings highlighted which students were most at risk to encounter NSI, including the period during their training when it was most likely to occur, thus enabling directed re-emphasis and training in Infection Control and Prevention.
► Crop residues are an important source of livestock feed across smallholder mixed systems in (sub)tropical Africa and Asia. ► In intensive systems biomass productivity is high leaving surplus ...residues facilitating a potential adoption of CA-based mulching. ► Extensive systems have limited amounts of crop residues and trade-offs on crop residue use are high. ► Introduction of CA-based mulching in these systems faces diverse challenges and opportunities. ► Agricultural intensification can help to better target CA-based mulching interventions and introduce CA-based mulching practices.
Conservation Agriculture (CA) is being advocated to enhance soil health and sustain long term crop productivity in the developing world. One of CA's key principles is the maintenance of soil cover often by retaining a proportion of crop residues on the field as mulch. Yet smallholder crop–livestock systems across Africa and Asia face trade-offs among various options for crop residue use. Knowledge of the potential trade-offs of leaving more residues as mulch is only partial and the objective of this research is to address some of these knowledge gaps by assessing the trade-offs in contrasting settings with mixed crop–livestock systems. The paper draws from village surveys in 12 sites in 9 different countries across Sub-Sahara Africa and South Asia. Sites were clustered into 3 groups along the combined population and livestock density gradients to assess current crop residue management practices and explore potential challenges to adopting mulching practices in different circumstances. Results show that although high-density sites face higher potential pressure on resources on an area basis, biomass production tends to be more substantial in these sites covering demands for livestock feed and allowing part of the residues to be used as mulch. In medium-density sites, although population and livestock densities are relatively lower, biomass is scarce and pressure on land and feed are high, increasing the pressure on crop residues and their opportunity cost as mulch. In low-density areas, population and livestock densities are relatively low and communal feed and fuel resources exist, resulting in lower potential pressure on residues on an area basis. Yet, biomass production is low and farmers largely rely on crop residues to feed livestock during the long dry season, implying substantial opportunity costs to their use as mulch. Despite its potential benefit for smallholder farmers across the density gradient, the introduction of CA-based mulching practices appears potentially easier in sites where biomass production is high enough to fulfil existing demands for feed and fuel. In sites with relatively high feed and fuel pressure, the eventual introduction of CA needs complementary research and development efforts to increase biomass production and/or develop alternative sources to alleviate the opportunity costs of leaving some crop residues as mulch.
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