Microcapsules containing a solvent and reactive epoxy resin are a critical component for the development of cost-effective, low toxicity, and low flammability self-healing materials. We report a ...robust in situ encapsulation method for protection of a variety of oil soluble solvents and reactive epoxy resins surrounded by a thin, polymeric, urea–formaldehyde (UF) shell. Resin–solvent capsules are produced in high yield with diameters ranging from 10 to 300μm by controlling agitation rates. These capsules have a continuous inner shell wall and a rough exterior wall that promotes bonding to a polymer matrix. Capsules as small as 300nm in diameter are achieved through sonication and stabilization procedures. The presence of both the epoxy resin and solvent core components is confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, and the relative amount of epoxy and solvent in the liquid core is determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The capsules are shown to satisfy the requirements for use in self-healing materials including processing survivability, thermal stability, and efficient in situ rupture for delivery of healing agent.
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While sanitation interventions have focused primarily on child health, women's unique health risks from inadequate sanitation are gaining recognition as a priority issue. This study examines the ...range of sanitation-related psychosocial stressors during routine sanitation practices in Odisha, India. Between August 2013 and March 2014, we conducted in-depth interviews with 56 women in four life stages: adolescent, newly married, pregnant and established adult women in three settings: urban slums, rural villages and indigenous villages. Using a grounded theory approach, the study team transcribed, translated, coded and discussed interviews using detailed analytic memos to identify and characterize stressors at each life stage and study site. We found that sanitation practices encompassed more than defecation and urination and included carrying water, washing, bathing, menstrual management, and changing clothes. During the course of these activities, women encountered three broad types of stressors—environmental, social, and sexual—the intensity of which were modified by the woman's life stage, living environment, and access to sanitation facilities. Environmental barriers, social factors and fears of sexual violence all contributed to sanitation-related psychosocial stress. Though women responded with small changes to sanitation practices, they were unable to significantly modify their circumstances, notably by achieving adequate privacy for sanitation-related behaviors. A better understanding of the range of causes of stress and adaptive behaviors is needed to inform context-specific, gender-sensitive sanitation interventions.
•We explore sanitation-related psychosocial stress among Indian women in Odisha.•Sanitation-behaviors are more expansive than urination and defecation.•Three types of stressors are defined: environmental, social, and sexual violence.•Women regulate behaviors in response to stressors in ways that create health risks.•Life stage and geographic setting modify the intensity of stressors.
Acute GvHD (aGvHD) is a life-threatening complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Frontline therapy for aGvHD consists of corticosteroid administration. However, ∼25% of the patients ...have a steroid-refractory disease, a sign of poor prognosis. An alternative therapy for steroid-refractory aGvHD is infusion of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Herein, we report the results of 46 patients treated with MSC infusion as salvage therapy for steroid-refractory aGvHD III/IV (78% grade IV). Patients received a median cumulative dose of MSCs of 6.81 × 10
/kg (range, 0.98-29.78 × 10
/kg) in a median of 3 infusions (range, 1-7). Median time between the onset of aGvHD and the first MSC infusion was 25.5 days (range, 6-153). Of the patients, 50% (23/46) presented clinical improvement. Of these, 3 patients (13%) had complete response, 14 (61%) had partial response and 6 (26%) had transient partial response. The estimated probability of survival at 2s year was 17.4%. Only 2 patients (4.3%) presented acute transient side effects (nausea/vomiting and blurred vision) during cell infusion. No patient had late or severe side effects because of MSC infusion. These results suggest that this therapeutic modality is safe and should be considered for steroid-refractory aGvHD, especially in countries where other second-line agents are less available.
On 29 September 2022 the Juno spacecraft flew within 354 km of Europa's surface while several instruments probed the moon's surroundings. During the close flyby, radio occultations were performed by ...collecting single‐frequency Doppler measurements. These investigations are essential to the study of Europa's ionosphere and represent the first repeat sampling of any set of conditions since the Galileo era. Ingress measurements resulted in a marginal detection with a peak ionospheric density of 4,000 ± 3,700 cm−3 (3σ) at 22 km altitude. A more significant detection emerged on egress, with a peak density of 6,000 ± 3,000 cm−3 (3σ) at 320 km altitude. Comparison with Galileo measurements reveals a consistent picture of Europa's ionosphere, and confirms its dependence on illumination conditions and position within Jupiter's magnetosphere. However, the overall lower densities measured by Juno suggest a dependence on time of observation, with implications for the structure of the neutral atmosphere.
Plain Language Summary
On 29 September 2022, NASA's Juno spacecraft flew very close to Jupiter's moon Europa. During the encounter, a radio occultation experiment was performed, where radio signals are exchanged between the spacecraft and ground stations as the former sets behind or rises from the moon as seen from the Earth. The scope of this experiment was studying the ionosphere of Europa, a layer of electrons and ions surrounding the moon. The Juno measurements confirmed the presence of the layer, with a structure similar to the one observed by the Galileo mission in the late 1990s.
Key Points
Europa's ionosphere was detected from Juno's X‐band Doppler data via NASA's Deep Space Network during a close encounter in 2022
Peak densities were 4,000 ± 3,700 cm−3 (3σ) at 22 km altitude during ingress and 6,000 ± 3,000 cm−3 (3σ) at 320 km during egress
The Juno ionospheric profiles are consistent with Galileo measurements, and show a dependence on solar zenith and magnetospheric ram angles
Exercise intolerance is the hallmark consequence of advanced chronic heart failure (HF). The six-minute step test (6MST) has been considered an option for the six-minute walk test because it is safe, ...inexpensive, and can be applied in small places. However, its reliability and concurrent validity has still not been investigated in participants with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Clinically stable HFrEF participants were included. Reliability and error measurement were calculated by comparing the first with the second 6MST result. Forty-eight hours after participants underwent the 6MST, they were invited to perform a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a cycle ergometer. Concurrent validity was assessed by correlation between number of steps and peak oxygen uptake (VO.sub.2 peak) at CPET. Twenty-seven participants with HFrEF (60 + or - 8 years old and left ventricle ejection fraction of 41 + or - 6%) undertook a mean of 94 + or - 30 steps in the 6MST. Intra-rater reliability was excellent for 6MST (ICC=0.9), with mean error of 4.85 steps and superior and inferior limits of agreement of 30.6 and -20.9 steps, respectively. In addition, strong correlations between number of steps and CPET workload (r=0.76, P <0.01) and peak VO.sub.2 (r=0.71, P<0.01) were observed. From simple linear regression the following predictive equations were obtained with 6MST results: VO.sub.2 peak (mL/min) = 350.22 + (7.333 x number of steps), with R.sup.2=0.51, and peak workload (W) =4.044 + (0.772 x number of steps), with R.sup.2=0.58. The 6MST was a reliable and valid tool to assess functional capacity in HFrEF participants and may moderately predict peak workload and oxygen uptake of a CPET. Key words: Exercise tolerance; Heart failure; Functional capacity; Six-minute step test; Cardiopulmonary exercise testing; Rehabilitation
Gel pack temperatures were compared for responses to thermal, physiological, perceptual, and ergogenic indices from healthy women (n = 12) and men (n = 8). They did three rowing workouts to identify ...an ideal temperature. In a randomised sequence, and as subjects wore gloves equipped with mesh pouches during workouts, gel packs at one of the three average temperatures (10.6, 12.6, or 14.9°C) were inserted into the pouches. Data were collected before, during and after multi-stage workouts. Thermal, physiological, and perceptual data were each compared with three-factor (condition, gender, time) mixed effect model ANCOVAs, with repeated measures for condition and time, and gender as a between subjects' factor. Distance rowed was assessed with two-factor (condition, gender) mixed effect model ANCOVAs, with repeated measures for condition, and gender as a between subjects' factor. Within-subject contrasts was the post-hoc, and α = 0.05 denoted significance. Despite small differences for distance rowed, many dependent variables had significant inter-condition effects, whereby 10.6°C gel packs had the best thermal and physiological responses. The 10.6°C temperature 1): likely removed the most body heat, perhaps through cold-induced vasodilation and, 2): may be optimal, as it evoked the best thermal and physiological responses.
In June 2021, the Juno spacecraft executed a close flyby of Ganymede. During the encounter, Juno passed behind Ganymede for 15 min as observed from Earth, providing the geometry to conduct a radio ...occultation experiment to probe Ganymede's tenuous ionosphere. X‐band and Ka‐band radio links were transmitted from Juno to antennas at the Deep Space Network. Electrons encountered along the radio propagation path advance the signal's phase and a linear combination the two frequencies allows for a direct measurement of the electron content along the propagation path. On occultation ingress, an ionosphere peak of 2,000 ± 500 (1‐σ) cm−3 near the surface was observed. On occultation egress, no statistically significant ionosphere was detected. Ingress observation viewed where Ganymede's intrinsic magnetic field lines are open whereas egress observation viewed where the field lines are closed, implying electron impact ionization plays a key role in the generation of the ionosphere.
Plain Language Summary
Juno conducted a flyby of Ganymede, the largest Galilean moon of Jupiter, on 7 June 2021. During the flyby, the Juno spacecraft set behind Ganymede as observed by the Earth. Juno's radio signals were captured by the Deep Space Network during this time to make radio occultation measurements of Ganymede's ionosphere. Elevated electron density was measured on occultation ingress but no statistically significant ionosphere was detected on egress. These results are consistent with Galileo's radio occultation observations and provide insight into the generation mechanisms of Ganymede's ionosphere.
Key Points
A dual‐frequency radio occultation experiment of Ganymede's ionosphere was conducted with the Juno spacecraft on 7 June 2021
Ingress observed an ionosphere with peak density 2,000 ± 500 (1‐σ) cm−3 but no statistically significant signature was detected on egress
Ingress detection occurred in the open field line region, where higher electron impact ionization rates may increase the electron density
Introduction and hypothesis
To investigate relaxin-2 concentration comparing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and non-GDM patients during pregnancy according to urinary incontinence (UI) and ...pelvic function status.
Methods
This is a cross-sectional study evaluating 282 pregnant women from 24 weeks of gestation. The participants were divided into two groups, non-GDM and GDM, according to American Diabetes Association’s diabetes mellitus gestational threshold. In addition, according to subanalysis, both groups were subdivided according to the presence of pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence: non-GDM continent, non-GDM incontinent, GDM continent, and GDM incontinent. All participants filled in questionnaires on clinical, obstetric, and urinary continence status (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form, ICIQ-SF, and Incontinence Severity Index, ISI), followed by pelvic floor muscle evaluation by the PERFECT scheme in which strength, endurance, and speed of contractions were evaluated.
Results
Serum relaxin-2 concentrations were significantly lower in pregnant women with pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence in both non-GDM and GDM patients, but GDM showed the lowest concentration. In addition, the stratification of the groups according to pelvic floor muscle strength showed that pregnant patients with GDM and modified Oxford scale 0–2 had significantly lower levels than those who were non-GDM and GDM with Modified Oxford Scale 3–5. Relaxin-2 level was much lower in GDM incontinent pregnant women with MOS 0–2 compared to the other three groups.
Conclusions
Lower relaxin-2 concentration was associated with the presence of pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence, but the combination of GDM, pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence, and lower levels of pelvic floor strength led to lower levels of relaxin-2 compared to the other three groups.
Radio-frequency (RF) ion thrusters are characterized in vacuum test facilities differentiated by pumping speed and thus subject to varying levels of neutral propellant ingestion that affect plasma ...plume properties and artificially raise the pressure of neutral propellant available to the thruster. These plasma properties are often used to calculate anticipated thrust values for RF thruster prototypes without consideration of the effects ingested neutral propellant may have beyond increasing the amount of neutral atoms available. This study compares exit plane plasma properties for nominal operation of a replica of the Madison Helicon Experiment operating at a propellant flow rate of 2 standard cm3/min argon subject to 3.8 cm3/min ingested argon flow with thruster operation over a range of propellant flow rates (1.3–60 standard cm3/min argon) subject to a maximum ingested argon flow rate of 0.8 cm3/min to determine the validity of compensating for neutral ingestion at higher operating pressures by increasing supplied propellant flow rates when operating at lower facility pressures. This study finds that no single operating condition at the 0.8 cm3/min ingestion condition reproduces all the plasma property values recorded at the nominal flow rate at the 3.8 cm3/min ingestion condition. The inability of plasma properties to be reproduced at a single adjusted flow rate is a result of the differing magnitudes of influence neutral ingestion effects have on individual plume properties.
Pelvic floor muscles (PFM) and rectus abdominis muscles (RAM) of pregnant diabetic rats exhibit atrophy, co-localization of fast and slow fibers and an increased collagen type I/III ratio. However, ...the role of similar PFM or RAM hyperglycemic-related myopathy in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains poorly investigated. This study aims to assess the frequency of pelvic floor muscle disorders and pregnancy-specific urinary incontinence (PS-UI) 12 months after the Cesarean (C) section in women with GDM. Specifically, differences in PFM/RAM hyperglycemic myopathy will be evaluated.
The Diamater is an ongoing cohort study of four groups of 59 pregnant women each from the Perinatal Diabetes Research Centre (PDRC), Botucatu Medical School (FMB)-UNESP (São Paulo State University), Brazil. Diagnosis of GDM and PS-UI will be made at 24-26 weeks, with a follow-up at 34-38 weeks of gestation. Inclusion in the study will occur at the time of C-section, and patients will be followed at 24-48 h, 6 weeks and 6 and 12 months postpartum. Study groups will be classified as (1) GDM plus PS-UI; (2) GDM without PS-UI; (3) Non-GDM plus PS-UI; and (4) Non-GDM without PS-UI. We will analyze relationships between GDM, PS-UI and hyperglycemic myopathy at 12 months after C-section. The mediator variables to be evaluated include digital palpation, vaginal squeeze pressure, 3D pelvic floor ultrasound, and 3D RAM ultrasound. RAM samples obtained during C-section will be analyzed for ex-vivo contractility, morphological, molecular and OMICS profiles to further characterize the hyperglycemic myopathy. Additional variables to be evaluated include maternal age, socioeconomic status, educational level, ethnicity, body mass index, weight gain during pregnancy, quality of glycemic control and insulin therapy.
To our knowledge, this will be the first study to provide data on the prevalence of PS-UI and RAM and PFM physical and biomolecular muscle profiles after C-section in mothers with GDM. The longitudinal design allows for the assessment of cause-effect relationships between GDM, PS-UI, and PFMs and RAMs myopathy. The findings may reveal previously undetermined consequences of GDM.
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