Rapid Mobilization Research Articles

The effects of mass media messages, perceived susceptibility and self-rated health on public attitude towards COVID-19 in South Africa

ObjectivesSouth Africa was the worst affected country in Africa by the COVID-19 pandemic and it is important to interrogate the attitude of the populace towards the pandemic for future interventions. Therefore, this study examined effects of mass media messages, susceptibility to COVID-19 and self-rated health on the attitudes of South Africans towards the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsData was from the National Income Dynamics Study – Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (NIDS-CRAM) of 2021 which is a nationally representative panel survey of about 7,000 South African individuals in all the nine provinces. Analyses of data were through descriptive statistics, chi square test and logistic regression models.ResultsThe results showed that 61.28% of the resondents did not take COVID-19 test while 91.09% of them engaged in behavioral changes such as social distancing and wearing of face masks. In addition, 74.27% of the respondents had access to mass media information, 70.44% believed they have good physical health while 32.43% felt they were not susceptible to COVID-19. The chi-square results of attitude towards COVID-19 showed significant differences in access to mass media messages on COVID-19, race, and province of residence. Furthermore, respondents who had access to mass media information on COVID-19 (OR = 1.469; p = 0.001) and respondents who believed that they were susceptible to COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.443; p = 0.001) were significantly associated with increased likelihood of engagement in behavioral changes to avoid the COVID-19.ConclusionThese findings therefore emphasize the need for increased awareness and sensitization of the people about the susceptibility and adverse effects of diseases to ensure that they adopt the appropriate attitudes that will safeguard them from such diseases outbreak.

Phase II study of novel CXCR2 agonist and Plerixafor for rapid stem cell mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma

MGTA-145 or GROβT, a CXCR2 agonist, has shown promising activity for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) mobilization with plerixafor in pre-clinical studies and healthy volunteers. Twenty-five patients with multiple myeloma enrolled in a phase 2 trial evaluating MGTA-145 and plerixafor for HSC mobilization (NCT04552743). Plerixafor was given subcutaneously followed 2 h later by MGTA-145 (0.03 mg/kg) intravenously with same day apheresis. Mobilization/apheresis could be repeated for a second day in patients who collected <6 ×106 CD34+ cells/kg. Lenalidomide and anti-CD38 antibody were part of induction therapy in 92% (n = 23) and 24% (n = 6) of patients, respectively. Median total HSC cell yield (CD34+ cells/kg × 106) was 5.0 (range: 1.1–16.2) and day 1 yield was 3.4 (range: 0.3–16.2). 88% (n = 22) of patients met the primary endpoint of collecting 2 ×106 CD34+ cells/kg in ≤ two days, 68% (n = 17) in one day. Secondary endpoints of collecting 4 and 6 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg in ≤ two days were met in 68% (n = 17) and 40% (n = 10) patients. Grade 1 or 2 adverse events (AE) were seen in 60% of patients, the most common AE being grade 1 pain, usually self-limited. All 19 patients who underwent transplant with MGTA-145 and plerixafor mobilized HSCs engrafted successfully, with durable engraftment at day 100. 74% (17 of 23) of grafts with this regimen were minimal residual disease negative by next generation flow cytometry. Graft composition for HSCs and immune cells were similar to a contemporaneous cohort mobilized with G-CSF and plerixafor.

Treatment of Geriatric Acetabular Fractures Using the Modified Stoppa Approach: A Review Article of Technique, Tips, and Pitfalls

The surgical treatment of geriatric acetabular fractures is becoming increasingly important due to a demographic change in age. While acetabular fractures used to occur more frequently in younger patients, they are currently more prevalent in geriatric patients. This change has also led to an increase in the frequency of anterior and combined anterior acetabular fractures. Surgery for geriatric acetabular fractures is very challenging, and surgeons need years of experience to be able to deal with the advantages and disadvantages of pelvic surgery. This is why a high level of surgical expertise is required. The aim of this article is to provide an insight into the topic of geriatric acetabular fractures with a critical narrative review of the current literature and a focus on minimally invasive surgical treatment using the modified Stoppa approach without patients’ own assessment. The modified Stoppa approach offers excellent visibility of the anterior structures of the acetabulum and can address the quadrilateral surface effectively. Pelvic surgery, in particular acetabular surgery, offers patients many advantages, such as rapid mobilization and the quick relief of pain symptoms. Total hip arthroplasty is currently being discussed as an alternative with good results for certain types of acetabular fractures in older patients, though it requires clarification of studies and recommendations.

Innovative lake pollution profiling: unveiling pollutant sources through advanced multivariate clustering techniques.

In many developed and developing nations, lakes are the primary source of drinking water. In the current scenario, due to rapid mobilization in anthropogenic activities, lakes are becoming increasingly contaminated. Such practices not only destroy lake ecosystems but also jeopardize human health through water-borne diseases. This study employs advanced hierarchical clustering through multivariate analysis to establish a novel method for concurrently identifying significantly polluted lakes and critical pollutants. A systematic approach has been devised to generate rotating component matrices, dendrograms, monoplots, and biplots by combining R-mode and Q-mode analyses. This enables the identification of contaminant sources and their grouping. A case study analyzing five lakes in Bengaluru, India, has been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology. Additionally, one pristine lake from Jammu & Kashmir, India, has been included to validate the findings from the aforementioned five lakes. The study explored correlations among various physical, chemical, and biological characteristics such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, nitrates, biological oxygen demand (BOD), fecal coliform (FC), and total coliform (TC). Critical contaminants forming clusters included conductivity, nitrates, BOD, TC, and FC. Factor analysis identified four primary components that collectively accounted for 85% of the overall variance. Following identification of pollution hotspots, the study recommends source-based pollution control and integrated watershed management, which could significantly reduce lake pollution levels. Continuous monitoring of lake water quality is essential for identifying actual contaminant sources. These findings provide practical recommendations for maximizing restoration efforts, enforcing regulations on pollutant sources, and improving water quality conditions to ensure sustainable development of lakes.

The cGAS-STING Pathway Is Essential in Acute Ischemia-Induced Neutropoiesis and Neutrophil Priming in the Bone Marrow.

Acute myocardial ischemia triggers a rapid mobilization of neutrophils from the bone marrow to peripheral blood, facilitating their infiltration into the infarcted myocardium. These cells are critical for inducing inflammation and contributing to myocardial repair. While neutrophils in infarcted tissue are better characterized, our understanding of whether and how ischemia regulates neutrophil production, differentiation, and functionality in the bone marrow remains limited. This study investigates these processes and the influence of the cGAS-STING pathway in the context of myocardial infarction. The cGAS-STING pathway detects aberrant DNA within cells, activates STING, and initiates downstream signaling cascades involving NFKB and IRF3. We analyzed neutrophils from bone marrow, peripheral blood, and infarct tissues using MI models generated from wild-type, Cgas -/- , and Sting -/- mice. These models are essential for studying neutropoiesis (neutrophil production and differentiation), as it involves multiple cell types. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that ischemia not only increased neutrophil production but also promoted cytokine signaling, phagocytosis, chemotaxis, and degranulation in the bone marrow before their release into the peripheral blood. Inhibition of the cGAS-STING pathway decreased neutrophil production after MI and down-regulated the same pathways activated by ischemia. Neutrophils lacking cGAS or STING were less mature, exhibited reduced activation, and decreased degranulation. Deletion of cGAS and STING decreased the expression of a large group of IFN-stimulated genes and IFIT1+ neutrophils from peripheral blood and the infarct tissue, suggesting that cGAS-STING plays an essential role in neutrophils with the IFN-stimulated gene signature. Importantly, transcriptomic analysis of Cgas -/- and Sting -/- neutrophils from bone marrow and MI tissues showed downregulation of similar pathways, indicating that the functionality developed in the bone marrow was maintained despite infarct-induced stimulation. These findings highlight the importance of neutropoiesis in dictating neutrophil function in target tissues, underscoring the critical role of the cGAS-STING pathway in neutrophil-mediated myocardial repair post-ischemia.

MOF-derived In2O3 nanotubes modified by Bi2Se3 for enhanced NOx detection at room temperature

The In2O3/Bi2Se3 composite was synthesized by loading Bi2Se3 flakes on MOF-derived In2O3 tubes through solvothermal method. The chemical composition, morphology and chemical state of elements for composite were examined through XRD, SEM, TEM and XPS. The In2O3/Bi2Se3 composite exhibited significantly enhanced sensing performance compared to pure In2O3 and Bi2Se3. The response value of In2O3/Bi2Se3 composite is 844 for 30 ppm NOx at 25 °C, which is 21 times that of pure In2O3, and it also displays shorter response /recovery time and lower detection limit. The remarkable gas-sensing properties of In2O3/Bi2Se3 composite are attributable to its large specific surface area, rapid electron mobility, abundant oxygen vacancies and the presence of n-n heterostructure. The adsorption behavior of NOx gas on the surface of In2O3/Bi2Se3 was explored using the in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectrum.

State of the art treatment with Impella® in cardiac surgery inAustria.

Since 2022, the mechanical left ventricular support system Impella5.5® has been used in Austria for patients with cardiogenic shock, advanced heart failure, post-cardiotomy and low output syndrome. The surgical insertion of the Impella5.5 via the subclavian artery or alternatively via the ascending aorta has become an established procedure for medium-term treatment in patients with cardiogenic shock and bridging scenarios, such as bridge to recovery, bridge to left ventricular assist device (LVAD), bridge to decision, and bridge to heart transplant (HTx) in Austria. All Impella left ventricular heart pumps share the common feature of unloading the left ventricle, with the Impella5.5 achieving afull cardiac output of 5.5l/min. The stable positioning via transaxillary or transaortic insertion enables rapid extubation and mobilization of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), leading to asignificantly shorter ICU stay. The combined support of Impella5.5 with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has also proven effective in certain scenarios. Several nonrandomized studies demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of the Impella5.5 in practice, which have been included in multiple international guidelines. The advantages of the Impella5.5 in practice include the easy handling with high positional stability, and low complications rates. This article describes the significance of surgical Impella treatment in Austria from the perspective of Austrian clinical experts.

State of the art treatment with Impella® in cardiac surgery in Austria

Since 2022, the mechanical left ventricular support system Impella 5.5® has been used in Austria for patients with cardiogenic shock, advanced heart failure, post-cardiotomy and low output syndrome. The surgical insertion of the Impella 5.5 via the subclavian artery or alternatively via the ascending aorta has become an established procedure for medium-term treatment in patients with cardiogenic shock and bridging scenarios, such as bridge to recovery, bridge to left ventricular assist device (LVAD), bridge to decision, and bridge to heart transplant (HTx) in Austria. All Impella left ventricular heart pumps share the common feature of unloading the left ventricle, with the Impella 5.5 achieving a full cardiac output of 5.5l/min. The stable positioning via transaxillary or transaortic insertion enables rapid extubation and mobilization of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), leading to a significantly shorter ICU stay. The combined support of Impella 5.5 with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) has also proven effective in certain scenarios. Several nonrandomized studies demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of the Impella 5.5 in practice, which have been included in multiple international guidelines. The advantages of the Impella 5.5 in practice include the easy handling with high positional stability, and low complications rates. This article describes the significance of surgical Impella treatment in Austria from the perspective of Austrian clinical experts.

An ellipse-based locating method for flexible deployment of emergency UAVs

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are gaining attention in emergency response for their rapid mobility in dynamic scenarios. Constrained by limited endurance and payload, UAVs typically operate in a ”depot-customer-depot” paradigm. Thus, optimally locating multiple depots is critical to achieving operational efficiency and flexibility. Traditional location models, which rely on circular coverage, fail to capture the actual reachable area for UAV round-trips between multiple depots within a given endurance range. This drawback restricts deployment flexibility or results in excessive redundancy, even making it impractical. To address this limitation, we introduce an ellipse-based locating method for flexible UAV deployment, inspired by UAV reachability and process flexibility in manufacturing. This approach attempts to optimize the redundancy of multi-depot coverage for demand points to achieve a better balance between deployment flexibility and resource requirements. To tackle the model’s computational challenge, we present an improved Benders decomposition algorithm that speeds up the solution process by analytically addressing subproblems and implementing dominance rules to manage the master problem’s size. Simulations show that the proposed model greatly improves the ability to handle uncertainties by incorporating slight redundancy in emergency resources, and the fulfillment rate of demand fluctuations is increased by 5%–20%, which shows the superiority of enhancing the mobility and flexibility of UAV deployment.

Determinants of rural households’ food security status in South Africa: lessons from covid-19 social relief grant recipients in NIDS-CRAM wave 5

The world experienced an unprecedented health shock (COVID-19) which caught everyone by surprise, and destabilized many sectors, especially the agri-food sector. This unpleasant situation caused upset in the food production and distribution chain, and continues to threaten the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 2 which underscores zero hunger in society. Many people in South Africa were disproportionately affected with severe consequences on their livelihood activities, food security status, health status, and general welfare conditions; and as a result, social relief intervention was put in place or expanded. This study examined the factors influencing rural households’ food security status among the recipients of social relief grants in rural areas of South Africa. The study used a secondary dataset from Wave 5 of National Income Dynamics Study - Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (NIDS-CRAM). The research applied descriptive statistics to describe the respondents’ socio-economic characteristics, and pattern of income flow. Food Insecurity Access Scale was employed to investigate the respondents’ food security status, while multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the determinants of food security. The results showed that the majority of the respondents were black (99%), female-headed (54.15%), dwelling in flats (74.01%), with secondary education (88.6%), and heavily dependent on government grants (58.61%). Also, most households were food secure (71.69%) during the pandemic. Moreover, households headed by men were more food secure (62.84%) compared to the ones headed by the female counterparts (37.08). Multinomial regression estimates revealed that formal education (p&lt;0.1), employment status (p&lt;0.05), dwelling type (p&lt;0.01), as well as household size (p&lt;0.01) significantly determined rural households’ food security status. The study concluded that social relief grants significantly reduced the food insecurity situation among the rural households in South Africa, and recommended that the government should ensure the continuation of the social relief of distress grant to the vulnerable people who are mostly domiciled in the rural areas, especially women who are disproportionately affected by these health shocks. Key words: Covid-19, social grant, rural households, food security, South Africa

The Effect of The ERACS Method on The Acceleration of Mobilization of Post Sectio Caesaria Patients at Academic Hospital Universitas Gadjah Mada In 2023

Background: ERACS (Enhanced Recovery After Caesarian Surgery) is a fast programrecovery after a Caesarean section in the form of a series of care starting from preoperativepreparation, intraoperative and post-operative care until the patient is discharged. InIndonesia itself, the implementation of the ERACS protocol began to be implemented in2019. UGM Academic Hospital, the ERACS method is still a new service from the MaternalPerinatal Installation and will start running in November 2022. This research aims todetermine the difference in maternal mobilization time post Sectio Caesaria with the ERACSmethod and mobilization of mothers post non-eracs SC at UGM Academic Hospital in 2023.This research is a quantitative research using a quasi-experimental method with anonequivalent posttest control group design. The research was conducted at the UGMAcademic Hospital in April - September 2023. The sampling technique was accidentalsampling. The research results showed that the average mobilization of post-Sc patientsusing the ERACS method was 13.1 hours and the average mobilization of non-ERACS post-Scpatients was 33.7 hours. From the results of the analysis of 54 respondents using theIndependent Sample Test, it shows a value of 0.000. So H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted.Conclusion: there is an effect of giving the ERACS method by accelerating the mobilizationof women giving birth post sc.Keywords: Sectio Caesaria, Maternity, Mobilization, Rapid Mobilization, ERACS

Adolescents’ behavioral changes and preventive practices against COVID-19 in South Africa: The influence of household characteristics

The South African government instituted a countermeasure against COVID-19 in March 2020, which had a significant impact on many individuals, particularly the youth. However, there is a limited understanding of how household characteristics influenced adolescents&amp;rsquo; behavioral changes and their adoption of preventive measures during the pandemic. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the role of household characteristics and adolescents&amp;rsquo; behavioral responses to COVID-19 in South Africa. Using the latest data from the South African National Income Dynamics-Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (Wave 5), which includes responses from 5581 (99.9%) youths aged 15 &amp;ndash; 24, we analyzed changes in their behaviors and the preventive measures they adopted. The study controlled for various household, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. We utilized cross-tabulations and an ordinal logistics regression model to determine the relationship between the covariates and the outcome of behavioral changes and preventive measures adopted. Our findings revealed that none of the respondents adopted all recommended precautionary measures for COVID-19, while 55.7% exhibited low behavioral changes, and only 2.7% exhibited higher behavioral changes throughout the pandemic. The results indicate that, at both the individual and household levels, factors such as gender, educational attainment, source of household income, and access to electricity increase the odds of behavioral changes against COVID-19 in South Africa. In addition, among household-level factors, adolescents without access to water were more likely to adopt one to three preventive measures compared to those with access to water (52.2% vs. 47.9%, p &lt; 0.001). Therefore, to effectively prevent the spread of infection in South Africa, it is pertinent to address these household characteristics and encourage preventive measures tailored to these factors.

Serratiopeptidase with diclofenac sodium for the management of post-operative pain and inflammation in a day care obstetric and gynaecological surgeries

Management of acute post-operative pain and swelling after the obstetric and gynaecological (OBG) surgeries is crucial part of patient care. Reduction or complete elimination of post-operative pain &amp; swelling, without excessive sedation is the most preferred treatment strategy helping patient’s recovery in terms of rapid mobilization and return to independence. Serratiopeptidase a proteolytic enzyme used for its anti-inflammatory properties. Diclofenac Sodium is commonly used to treat the pain and swelling. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of the fixed dose combination (FDC) of Serratiopeptidase (10 mg) with Diclofenac Sodium (50 mg) gastro-resistant tablets in day care OBG surgery. This was a single centre, retrospective, observational data collection in real-life scenario. Data of adult women who had undergone day care OBG surgery and received a FDC of Serratiopeptidase (10 mg) with Diclofenac Sodium (50 mg) gastro-resistant tablets TID for period of 24 hours was retrieved and analysed. VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) data on post-operative pain at rest and pain on movement as well as post-operative swelling were analyzed in conjunction with monitoring for adverse events. Among 61 patient’s data included in the study, 40 (65.57%) had undergone Minimally Invasive Vaginal Hysterectomy (MIVH), 4 (6.56%) had MIVH with Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy, and 17 (27.87%) had other OBG surgeries. The average VAS scores for pain at rest (VAS), pain on movement (VAS) and swelling were significantly reduced compared to baseline at all-time points (p&amp;#62;0.001). Clinical global impression of efficacy and safety for 95% physician’s and 93.3% patients was good to very good. FDC was found to be well tolerated without any serious adverse reaction. The results of this clinical study confirms the effectiveness and tolerability of FDC of Serratiopeptidase and Diclofenac sodium in day care OBG surgeries in the early post-operative period.

Development of VLA4 and CXCR4 Antagonists for the Mobilization of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells.

The treatment of patients diagnosed with hematologic malignancies typically includes hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as part of a therapeutic standard of care. The primary graft source of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) for HSCT is mobilized from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood of allogeneic donors or patients. More recently, these mobilized HSPCs have also been the source for gene editing strategies to treat diseases such as sickle-cell anemia. For a HSCT to be successful, it requires the infusion of a sufficient number of HSPCs that are capable of adequate homing to the bone marrow niche and the subsequent regeneration of stable trilineage hematopoiesis in a timely manner. Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is currently the most frequently used agent for HSPC mobilization. However, it requires five or more daily infusions to produce an adequate number of HSPCs and the use of G-CSF alone often results in suboptimal stem cell yields in a significant number of patients. Furthermore, there are several undesirable side effects associated with G-CSF, and it is contraindicated for use in sickle-cell anemia patients, where it has been linked to serious vaso-occlusive and thrombotic events. The chemokine receptor CXCR4 and the cell surface integrin α4β1 (very late antigen 4 (VLA4)) are both involved in the homing and retention of HSPCs within the bone marrow microenvironment. Preclinical and/or clinical studies have shown that targeted disruption of the interaction of the CXCR4 or VLA4 receptors with their endogenous ligands within the bone marrow niche results in the rapid and reversible mobilization of HSPCs into the peripheral circulation and is synergistic when combined with G-CSF. In this review, we discuss the roles CXCR4 and VLA4 play in bone marrow homing and retention and will summarize more recent development of small-molecule CXCR4 and VLA4 inhibitors that, when combined, can synergistically improve the magnitude, quality and convenience of HSPC mobilization for stem cell transplantation and ex vivo gene therapy after the administration of just a single dose. This optimized regimen has the potential to afford a superior alternative to G-CSF for HSPC mobilization.

The indication for total hip arthroplasty and its durability

The most frequent indication for total hip arthroplasty (THA) is hip osteoarthritis. THA is inserted to improve function, reduce pain, and improve quality of life. Results are generally good, and 90-95% of the patients are satisfied. However, there are risks associated with THA, and patients must be well informed. Before THA is considered, non-surgical treatment must be completed, as the need for surgery often is postponed. Patients can expect rapid mobilisation and a return to a near-habitual level of physical activity within a year. In Denmark, 95% have their THA after five years and 76% after 25 years.

Synthesis and characterization of zinc ferrite nanoparticles@GO for the photocatalytic degradation of Methylene Blue dye under visible light

Due to rising environmental pollution, there has been a growing focus on photo degradation catalysts for pollution removal. Under visible light irradiation, methylene blue dye (MB) photocatalytic degradation has been studied using Zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZnFe2O4 NPs) and Zinc ferrite nanoparticles/graphene oxide (ZnFe2O4/GO). Methylene blue dye is a carcinogenic pollutant that poses risks to both humans and marine life. The synthesis of ZnFe2O4/GO was achieved by the biotemplating method. Synthesized nanoparticles were loaded on graphene oxide (GO) in different ratios (Zn1:GO1, Zn1:GO3, and Zn1:GO5). Nanocomposite characterization was done utilizing Raman Spectroscopy analysis, FT–IR, XRD, BET, FE-SEM–EDX, XPS, and TEM. The confirmation of the cubic spinel structure of ZnFe2O4 NPs has been validated uniformly distributed on the surface of the GO sheets. The vigorous interaction between ZnFe2O4 NPs and graphene sheets facilitates rapid electron mobility, enhancing electron separation and holes in photocatalytic applications. The aforementioned parameters are crucial in MB’s photocatalytic degradation performance. Photocatalytic degradation processes depend on pH solution, initial dye concentration, and catalyst dosage. The outcomes demonstrated that augmenting the proportion of graphene oxide amplified MB photo degradation. Under the optimum conditions of 1 g/L dose, pH 8, 10 mg/L initial dye concentration, and 180-min irradiation time, the degradation ratio increased to 51.17 %, 59.70 %, 89.49 %, and 97.38 % using ZnFe2O4, Zn1:GO1, Zn1:GO3, and Zn1:GO5, respectively. Based on the photo degradation process, GO exhibited superior photocatalytic performance at the highest concentration. The kinetics data showed that the photo degradation reaction adheres to the pseudo-second-order. The study indicated that the eco-friendly, non-toxic photocatalyst ZnFe2O4/GO can be used as an effective potential substance for water treatment as well as the elimination of hazardous organic dyes from aqueous solutions.

Cardiovascular effects of long-duration space flight.

Early studies exploring the physiological effects of space travel have indicated the body's capacity for reversible adaptation. However, the impact of long-duration spaceflight, exceeding 6 months, presents more intricate challenges. Extended exposure to microgravity and radiation profoundly affects the CV system. Notable phenomena include fluid shifts toward the head and modified arterial pressure. These changes disrupt blood pressure regulation and elevate cardiac output. Additionally, the loss of venous compression leads to a reduction in central venous pressure. The displacement of fluid from the vascular system to the interstitium, driven by baroreceptor stimulation, results in a 10%-15% decline in plasma volume. Intriguingly, despite potential increases in cardiac workload, cardiac muscle atrophy and perplexing variations in hematocrit levels have been observed. The mechanism underlying atrophy appears to involve a shift in protein synthesis from the endoplasmic reticulum to the mitochondria via mortalin-mediated mechanisms. Instances of arrhythmias have been recurrently documented, although generally nonlethal, in both Russian and American space missions. Long-duration spaceflight has been associated with the prolongation of the QT interval, particularly in extended missions. Exposure of the heart to the proton and heavy ion radiation pervasive in deep space contributes to coronary artery degeneration, augmented aortic stiffness, and carotid intima thickening through collagen-mediated processes. Moreover, it accelerates the onset of atherosclerosis and triggers proinflammatory responses. Upon reentry, astronauts frequently experience orthostatic intolerance and altered sympathetic responses, which bear potential hazards in scenarios requiring rapid mobilization or evacuation. Consequently, careful monitoring of these cardiac risks is imperative for forthcoming missions. While early studies illuminate the adaptability of the body to space travel's challenges, the intricacies of long-duration missions and their effects on the CV system necessitate continued investigation and vigilance to ensure astronaut health and mission success.

Regulation on reacting solvent engineering for scalable synthesis of Na3(VOPO4)2F@carbon nanotubes microsphere cathodes towards high-power and long-lifespan Na-ion batteries

Na3(VOPO4)2F (NVOPF) has emerged as a promising cathode candidate for commercial Na-ion batteries, ascribed to its elevated theoretical energy density and robust structure during the extraction/insertion of two Na+ ions. However, the intrinsic poor electronic conductivity and unscalable materials-preparation technologies make it unexpected to stand out in large-scale energy storage systems. In this study, a spray-drying process technology is implemented to synthesize Na3(VOPO4)2F@carbon nanotubes (NVOPF@CNTs) composite through the reduction of V5+ driven by methanol at room temperature, in which the shortened Na-ion transfer path and the rapid electron mobility are facilitated by the CNTs. The resulting NVOPF@CNTs electrode exhibits exceptional capabilities, including a high discharge capacity (122.1 mA h g−1 at 1 C= 120 mA h g−1), outstanding rate performance (103.1 mA h g−1 at 100 C), and an extended lifespan (71.8 % capacity retention after 6000 cycles at 20 C). Additionally, the Na3(VOPO4)2F//NaTi2(PO4)3 full battery system demonstrates impressive high-power output capabilities (93.3 mA h g−1, 20 C), versatile current switching adaptability, and robust cycling performance (75.3 % of 98.5 mA h g−1 for the initial capacity after 3000 cycles). The study underscores the potential of improving the preparation of vanadium-based phosphate materials to enhance the practical application of Na-ion batteries.

Perovskite nanostructure anchored on reduced graphene (rGO) nanosheets as an efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER)

Energy is the basic need of this modern era and water splitting is the best known renewable source of energy. Designing an effective, high performing and durable electrocatalyst has become a serious endeavour to enhance water-splitting efficiency. For this purpose, a hydrothermal method was used to produce a non-toxic, environmentally friendly and cost-effective rGO/ZnSnO3, a composite material to improve water oxidation. For this, various analytical approaches were used to investigate the structural, textural, compositional, thermal and morphological features of the reported materials. The electrochemical properties of the rGO/ZnSnO3 nanohybrid was also analyzed by a three-electrode setup in a 1 M potassium hydroxide (KOH) and the resulting nanohybrid exhibited exceptionally small overpotential (212 mV) at an ideal current density (j) of 10 mA/cm2. The larger electrochemical surface area (ECSA) value 506.25 cm2, minimum charge transfer resistance (Rct) 0.18 Ω and remarkable stability around 20 h revealed that the produced composite material exhibited excellent potential for OER. Further examination revealed a significantly low Tafel value (37 mV/dec), suggesting that the rGO/ZnSnO3 nanohybrid possesses improved electrocatalytic efficiency and fast reaction kinetics. The nanohybrid mentioned above (rGO/ZnSnO3) shows significant potential for electrolysis of water and other electrochemical processes attributed to its considerable surface area, various active sites, exceptional stability, rapid electron mobility, low resistivity and favourable electrical conductivity.

Revealing the potential of a C6BN/black phosphorene nanocomposite as an anode material for sodium-ion batteries by atomistic simulation: DFT and AIMD

Black phosphorus (BP) has recently been regarded as a promising anode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) owing to its high storage capacity, rapid Na mobility in its lamellar structure, and low redox potential. However, its poor cyclability due to structural instability hampers its further implementation in SIBs. Here, we propose to design a novel two-dimensional nanocomposite by vertically stacking a C6BN sheet on a black phosphorene layer (C6BN/Black-Pn). Atomistic simulations by the van der Waals corrected density functional theory method were conducted to assess the suitability of the designed C6BN/Black-Pn model as a potential anode in SIBs. Benefiting from C6BN's electronic and chemical features, Black-Pn's band gap in C6BN/Black-Pn is diminished to 0.14 eV, which disappears and indicates metallic character upon sodiation. Additionally, the optimized Na adsorption energy within the nanocomposite is decreased to −2.06 eV, compared to −1.76 eV in pure Black-Pn and −0.98 eV in C6BN, with a modest diffusion barrier of 0.23 eV. A maximal theoretical capacity of 568.77 mAh/g and a low potential of 0.48 V are predicted for the nanocomposite. The above evaluation of C6BN/Black-Pn electrode for SIBs may provide better insights into adopting a physical approach to address BP electrochemical failures for advanced energy storage.