Sufficient Supply Research Articles

Work-related flow and its correlates among frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ample evidence across non-healthcare fields highlights the role of work-related flow in enhancing resilience against work stress and work engagement. Understanding flow and its factors can support staff development and management. This study aimed to investigate the level of work-related flow and its associated factors among frontline nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional multicenter study included 336 nurses caring for COVID-19 patients between March and April 2022. Cluster random sampling was used to select 9 nurse groups from 29 Taiwanese hospitals specialized in COVID-19 care. A web survey link was shared on the selected nurses' social media. Hierarchical regression analyses examined predictor-outcome relationships, following the STROBE checklist for reporting findings. Among demographic characteristics, sex (β=-0.11; p=0.016) and living arrangement (β=-0.12; p=0.017) reached statistical significance in model 3. Social support from family, friends, and significant others, managerial position, and sufficiency of personal protective equipment showed significant associations with work-related flow (all β>0.12; p<0.05). The variables included in the final model accounted for 35% of the variance in work-related flow for COVID-19 patient care tasks. Flow experience is influenced by factors associated with demographics, work conditions, and social support. Nurse administrators should consider these factors when evaluating nurses' flow at work. Allocating care tasks to nurses based on their flow levels can be beneficial, particularly during healthcare crises. Ensuring a sufficient supply of personal protective equipment and offering social support to nurses are vital strategies for facilitating their flow experience in the workplace.

A contactless 3D Janus evaporator with superhydrophobic core and superhydrophilic shell for efficient desalination and water purification

Solar interfacial evaporation is a low-cost strategy for desalination and water purification. However, for most evaporators, the coplanar configuration of light absorption and water evaporation results in a confined evaporation surface and salt deposition problems. Here, a contactless 3D Janus evaporator (Ag-NSP@BFP) with a core/shell structure is designed by wrapping Ag nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) decorated nickel sponge (Ag-NSP) using bamboo fiber paper (BFP). The superhydrophobic Ag-NSP core (absorber) achieves highly efficient light absorption and photothermal conversion. Meanwhile, the superhydrophilic BFP shell not only provides a larger evaporation area (side surfaces as evaporation surfaces) but also forms a 2D water channel to ensure sufficient water supply. Furthermore, polystyrene foam (EPS) isolates photothermal material from bulk water, minimizing heat transmission losses dramatically. The 3D Janus evaporator increases the evaporation area and harvests energy from the ambient environment, achieving an evaporation rate of up to 2.77 kg m−2h−1 and an energy conversion efficiency of 105.2%. Moreover, the Janus structure effectively inhibits salt accumulation on the photothermal surface and exhibits a good purification effect on wastewater containing dyes and heavy metal ions. Thus, combining a 3D evaporator with Janus structure to achieve efficient salt-resistant evaporation provides a new design idea for stable seawater desalination and wastewater purification.

Pathogen reduced red blood cells as an alternative to irradiated and washed components with potential for up to 42 days storage.

The urgency of maintaining a safe and adequate blood supply is increasing. One approach to ensure a sufficient supply is to limit the outdating frequency of blood components. Pathogen inactivation technology was developed primarily to increase safety by preventing transmission of infectious diseases. The Intercept Blood System for pathogen reduction of red blood cells (RBC) has additional benefits such as inactivation of leucocytes and removal of plasma and storage debris through centrifugation. Irradiation and automated washing are detrimental to the RBC membrane and often implicate shortened shelf-life. We aimed to assess whether pathogen inactivation can replace RBC irradiation and washing to avoid shelf-life reduction. RBC concentrates (No.=48) were pooled-and-split into four study arms, which underwent pathogen inactivation treatment, irradiation, automated washing or no treatment (reference). RBC quality was evaluated during 42 days by assessment of storage lesion. Washing efficacy was defined by IgA and albumin reduction. Pathogen reduced RBCs had similar membrane preservation to reference RBCs (hemolysis, microvesicles and extracellular potassium ions), whereas the RBCs were negatively impacted by irradiation or automated washing. ATP increased substantially post-pathogen inactivation, while 2,3-DPG decreased. Pathogen inactivation considerably reduced albumin and IgA, though slightly less efficiently than automated washing. RBCs exhibit superior membrane preservation after pathogen inactivation treatment, compared to both irradiation and automated washing. This suggests that replacement is possible, even though the plasma reduction protocol could be further optimised.Replacement of irradiated and washed RBC concentrates with pathogen reduced RBC concentrates storable up to 42 days would be advantageous for both the blood supply and patient safety.

Blood Donor Selection Profile an Important Tool for Blood Safety: An Institutional Experience

Background and Aim: Blood transfusions can be a crucial, life-saving treatment in modern medical and surgical practice. The primary objective of blood transfusion services worldwide is to guarantee the availability of a sufficient and safe supply of blood and blood products. Meticulous donor screening and use of highly sensitive techniques for the detection of transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) may help reduce the risk of TTIs and, hence, are important steps to ensure safety for both donor and recipient. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective record-based study done at Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. The blood donors’ data from January 2012 to December 2022 (10 years) were collected from the blood bank registry at the study site and were analyzed. Results: Males dominated the donor population (98.2%) with females comprising only (1.8%). In total, 10.9% were found unfit for donation for various reasons. Voluntary donors were (6.3%) and replacement donors were (93.7%). Out of the reasons for deferral, majority 497/1223 (40.6%) donors were deferred due to hemoglobin &lt;12.5 g/dl, followed by 156/1223 (12.8%) deferrals due to alcohol intake within the past 72 h. Conclusion: Safe donor selection is the first step toward safe transfusion services. Identification of population groups that can be targeted to enhance the pool of willing blood donors is made easier by studying and analyzing the blood donor profile.

Development and Application of Technical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Smart Water Cities (SWCs) Global Standards and Certification Schemes

Smart water cities (SWCs) use advanced technologies for efficient management and preservation of the urban water cycle, strengthening sustainability and improving the quality of life of the residents. This research aims to develop measurement and evaluation tools for SWC key performance indicators (KPIs), focusing on innovative water technologies in establishing unified global standards and certification schemes. The KPIs are categorized based on the stage at which water is being measured, namely the urban water cycle, water disaster management and water supply and treatment. The objective is to assess cities’ use of technologies in providing sufficient water supply, monitoring water quality, strengthening disaster resilience and maintaining and preserving the urban water ecosystem. The assessment is composed of a variety of procedures performed in a quantitative and qualitative manner, the details of which are presented in this study. The developed SWC KPI measurements are used to evaluate the urban water management practices for Busan Eco Delta City, located in Busan, South Korea. Evaluation processes were presented and established, serving as the guideline basis for certification in analyzing future cities, providing integrated and comprehensive information on the status of their urban water system, gathering new techniques, and proposing solutions for smarter measures.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and conspiracy beliefs in Togo: Findings from two cross-sectional surveys.

Togo is a low-income country in West Africa. Estimates from Our World in Data suggest that only 25% of the Togolese population have received at least one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine by June 2023. Whilst the early phase of the pandemic vaccine rollout across 2021 was dominated by higher-income countries taking much of the available supply, there have long been sufficient supplies for all nations. Thus, there remains a need to understand reasons for low uptake in countries such as Togo, here focusing on population confidence and trust, essentially characteristics that could potentially be addressed within health promotion strategies. Two cross-sectional telephone surveys of Togo residents were conducted in December 2020 and January 2022. These surveys asked questions around perceptions of COVID-19, trust in public health messaging, belief in conspiracy theories, and hesitancy around COVID-19 vaccination. Analyses here focus on unvaccinated respondents. Across Survey 1 (N = 1430) and Survey 2 (N = 212), 65% of respondents were men, and 47% lived in Lomé (capital city of Togo). Between Surveys 1 and 2, overall hesitancy (33.0% to 58.0% respectively) and beliefs in conspiracy theories (29% to 65%) significantly increased. Using logistics regression, governmental mistrust was the strongest significant predictor of hesitancy (OR: 2.90). Participants who indicated agreement or uncertainty with at least one conspiracy belief also predicted greater vaccine hesitancy (OR: 1.36). Proactive approaches to public health messaging, that better understand reasons for hesitancy across different demographics, can support uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations within Togo. This includes health promotion campaigns that use locally and nationally trusted knowledge providers (e.g. the health service or religious leaders) for greatest effectiveness at reducing impact of misinformation. Key future research should focus around knowledge gaps and areas of mistrust created by the pandemic, such as the impact of misinformation upon routine immunisation uptake.

Design and investigation of novel gradient flow fields for proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Ensuring sufficient gas supply and high distribution uniformity are crucial issues in the flow field design to improve the performance and durability of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). However, previous studies often ignore the gas-water distribution variations along the flow direction and adopt identical design for the entire flow field, resulting in unsatisfactory performance. To fill in this gap, this paper innovatively proposes two types of gradient flow field (gradient narrowing and gradient droplet) considering the gas-water distribution characteristics. The channel of the gradient narrowing flow field gradually decreases in all directions along the flow direction, and the gradient droplet flow field is composed of staggered droplet blocks, and the distribution density gradually decreases along the flow direction. The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method is used for the comprehensive evaluation of flow fields. The results demonstrate that the gradient flow field can significantly improve the performance and physical field distribution. The gradient narrowing flow field has the best performance, with 11.39 % improvement in peak power density, 77.96 % increment in average oxygen mass fraction, and 43.11 % improvement in oxygen uniformity compared to parallel flow field. Further, the key geometric parameters sensitivity analysis of gradient narrowing flow field is carried out. This study contributes to understanding the underlying mechanism of mass transfer properties in the novel gradient flow field, and exploring its potential for high-performance flow fields design.

Where is the source? Water sources for non-resident students at the University of Kabianga, Kenya

The immense increase in residential developments around universities to provide private accommodation for the rapidly growing population of university students has constrained providing a safe, clean, and sufficient water supply. The Kenyan Constitution protects everyone`s fundamental right to access adequate water. However, the reality for non-resident students at the University of Kabianga (UoK) is far from their entitlements by the Kenyan Constitution. This project aims at establishing the sources of water available for non-resident students of the UoK. To achieve this, the study employed an exploratory approach that employed a descriptive survey. Its target population was the non-resident students (673 students) of the UoK, from whom a sample size of 250 students was selected. Simple random sampling was used in selecting the participants, while purposive random sampling was utilized to choose the study's private hostels (15 Hostels). The tools for data collection included questionnaires, key informant interviews, and an observation guide. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS to generate descriptive statistics. Findings obtained from the study revealed that most respondents (68%) relied on rainwater during the rainy season. However, most students (46%) relied on wells/boreholes, while 44% relied on private vendors during the dry season. In addition, majority of the respondents (61%), the available sources of water were not safe for drinking. In terms of challenged faced by the respondents in accessing water, time wastage while trying to access water was stated to be the main challenge (78%) as this highly affected their studies. Taken together, the study show that the water sources are unreliable, and this may not satisfy the demands of water in the area. The findings of this study will provide a basis for the provision of a sustainable water supply of adequate quality to non-resident students` hostels at the University of Kabianga and inform the stakeholders of appropriate measures that should be put in place to ensure adequate water supply to their tenants.

Modelling the impact of replacing fish oil with plant oils: A meta‐analysis to match the optimal plant oil for major cultured fish

AbstractThe replacement of fish oil with plant oils is a common practice in aquaculture to compensate for the shortage of fish oil supply and has been thoroughly studied. However, because the experimental conditions vary in many aspects, the results are usually inconsistent quantitatively. Therefore, a meta‐analysis was conducted based on a dataset containing 328 articles to systematically model the influence of plant oils on the main aquaculture fish. In addition to demonstrating the species‐specific dose‐dependent impact of plant oils on fish growth, feed utilization efficiency, lipid deposition and health parameters, we have also investigated the role of other factors in this process. We found that the adverse effects caused by plant oils worsen as the experimental duration extends for Atlantic salmon, while Gilthead seabream and European seabass gradually adapt to the change. Further, water temperature could be a decisive factor for Rainbow trout, and early adaptation to plant oils would be helpful for Gilthead seabream. Moreover, sufficient fishmeal supply could alleviate the adverse effects caused by plant oils for most species, but for Gilthead seabream and European seabass, the growth suppression effect of plant oil was larger when fed high‐fishmeal diets. Besides, by comprehensively considering the effects of plant oils, we matched the potential optimal plant oil for each fish species. Our article quantitatively modelled the adverse effects of replacing fish oil with plant oils, investigated the influences of assistant factors and offered a panorama of the research status with emphasis on potential breakthrough orientations.

Advanced Hollow Cathode Discharge Plasma Treatment of Unique Bilayered Fibrous Nerve Guidance Conduits for Enhanced/Oriented Neurite Outgrowth.

Despite all recent progresses in nerve tissue engineering, critical-sized nerve defects are still extremely challenging to repair. Therefore, this study targets the bridging of critical nerve defects and promoting an oriented neuronal outgrowth by engineering innovative nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) synergistically possessing exclusive topographical, chemical, and mechanical cues. To do so, a mechanically adequate mixture of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) was first carefully selected as base material to electrospin nanofibrous NGCs simulating the extracellular matrix. The electrospinning process was performed using a newly designed 2-pole air gap collector that leads to a one-step deposition of seamless NGCs having a bilayered architecture with an inner wall composed of highly aligned fibers and an outer wall consisting of randomly oriented fibers. This architecture is envisaged to afford guidance cues for the extension of long neurites on the underlying inner fiber alignment and to concurrently provide a sufficient nutrient supply through the pores of the outer random fibers. The surface chemistry of the NGCs was then modified making use of a hollow cathode discharge (HCD) plasma reactor purposely designed to allow an effective penetration of the reactive species into the NGCs to eventually treat their inner wall. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results have indeed revealed a successful O2 plasma modification of the inner wall that exhibited a significantly increased oxygen content (24 → 28%), which led to an enhanced surface wettability. The treatment increased the surface nanoroughness of the fibers forming the NGCs as a result of an etching effect. This effect reduced the ultimate tensile strength of the NGCs while preserving their high flexibility. Finally, pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells were cultured on the NGCs to monitor their ability to extend neurites which is the base of a good nerve regeneration. In addition to remarkably improved cell adhesion and proliferation on the plasma-treated NGCs, an outstanding neural differentiation occurred. In fact, PC12 cells seeded on the treated samples extended numerous long neurites eventually establishing a neural network-like morphology with an overall neurite direction following the alignment of the underlying fibers. Overall, PCL/PLGA NGCs electrospun using the 2-pole air gap collector and O2 plasma-treated using an HCD reactor are promising candidates toward a full repair of critical nerve damage.

Rock and ice avalanche-generated catastrophic debris flow at Chamoli, 7 February 2021: New insights from the geomorphic perspective

Within mountainous landscapes neighboring glaciers, slope instabilities and consequent catastrophic mass flows are vital processes on Earth's surface, which have been of increasing interest for decades. These events commonly exhibit large volume, high velocity, and high mobility. Recently, a catastrophic debris flow occurred in India on 7 February 2021, which unfortunately claimed 70 lives and left 134 people missing. The failed mass comprises 80 % rock debris and 20 % glacier ice. Our remote sedimentological investigation of remnant deposition shows clear evidence of wet granular flow in upper Ronti Gad valley, which doesn't support the previous interpretation of immediate melting of the failed 20 % ice mass during the falling and impacting process. We further utilized the superelevation phenomenon to back-calculate the velocity downstream of the impact zone, and estimated the peak discharge, which is verified by field-documented data. Our results revealed an initial waning trend of rock and ice mass flow. As it entered the narrow valley of the lower Ronti Gad River, the extensive material erosion resulted in three-fold flow enlargement, which gave rise to a maximal peak discharge of up to 48–54 × 104 m3/s. The transition from granular flow to debris flow occurred in the 2-km-long channel downstream of the Ronti Gad-Rishigangga confluence. The sediment deposition of 4.8 × 104 m3 and the incorporation of stream water in this zone have dominated the rheologic transition. We inferred that the intense erosion of erodible sediment due to topographic constraint plays an essential role in maintaining the mobility of the flow. Therefore, the effect of glacier ice meltwater on high mobility may be overestimated. As long as the granular flow can access the stream water in major rivers, flow transformation can easily happen because of sufficient water supply in the channel. The valley morphology in the proglacial region is commonly featured by the shift from an upstream U-shaped valley carved by glacier erosion into a downstream fluvial-erosion-dominated V-shaped valley. This geomorphic setting of glaciated tributary favors the long-distance run-out of rock and ice avalanche.

A geographic information system approach for estimating state‐wide water quality credit need: Application for planned transportation projects in Virginia

AbstractUncertainty in water quality trading (WQT) markets is frequently cited as a deterrent for participation, with few studies focusing on uncertainty in future water quality credit needs. To reduce this uncertainty, we present a geographic information system (GIS)‐based methodology for estimating an upper bound of water quality credit needs for a set of spatially referenced planned construction projects over a large geographic region. We demonstrate the methodology by applying it to estimate future credit needs for the Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) 6‐year improvement program. The results show that 25% of the state's 6‐digit hydrologic unit code (HUC) basins lack sufficient current credit supply to meet the estimated future credit need from VDOT's planned projects alone. Furthermore, while 70% of the 8‐digit HUCs containing planned projects have a sufficient current credit supply to meet VDOT credit needs, this is true for only 20% of the 10‐digit HUCs. Finally, nearly 25% of the planned transportation projects, representing potentially $9 million in credit purchases at current market rates, will be constructed in catchments with impaired water bodies. State regulations will initially limit these projects to trade with credit banks collocated at the 12‐digit HUC level. This application demonstrates how the GIS‐based methodology can be applied to reduce uncertainty about future WQT credit needs and how needs are aligned with current credit supply.

Matched Redox Kinetics on Triazine-Based Carbon Nitride/Ni(OH)2 for Stoichiometric Overall Photocatalytic CO2 Conversion.

Mismatched reaction kinetics of CO2 reduction and H2O oxidation is the main obstacle limiting the overall photocatalytic CO2 conversion. Here, a molten salt strategy is used to construct tubular triazine-based carbon nitride (TCN) with more adsorption sites and stronger activation capability. Ni(OH)2 nanosheets are then grown over the TCN to trigger a proton-coupled electron transfer for a stoichiometric overall photocatalytic CO2 conversion via "3CO2 + 2H2O = CH4 + 2CO + 3O2." TCN reduces the energy barrier of H2O dissociation to promote H2O oxidation to O2 and supply sufficient protons to Ni(OH)2, whereby the CO2 conversion is accelerated due to the enhanced proton-coupled electron transfer process enabled by the sufficient proton supply from TCN. This work highlights the importance of matching the reaction kinetics of CO2 reduction and H2O oxidation by proton-coupled electron transfer on stoichiometric overall photocatalytic CO2 conversion.

Hyperspectral imaging reveals small-scale water gradients in apple leaves due to minimal cuticle perforation by Venturia inaequalis conidiophores.

Effects of Venturia inaequalis on water relations of apple leaves were studied under controlled conditions without limitation of water supply to elucidate their impact on the non-haustorial biotrophy of this pathogen. Leaf water relations, namely leaf water content and transpiration, were spatially resolved by hyperspectral imaging and thermography; non-imaging techniques-gravimetry, a pressure chamber, and porometry-were used for calibration and validation. Reduced stomatal transpiration 3-4 d after inoculation coincided with a transient increase of water potential. Perforation of the plant cuticle by protruding conidiophores subsequently increased cuticular transpiration even before visible symptoms occurred. With sufficient water supply, cuticular transpiration remained at elevated levels for several weeks. Infections did not affect the leaf water content before scab lesions became visible. Only hyperspectral imaging was suitable to demonstrate that a decreased leaf water content was strictly limited to sites of emerging conidiophores and that cuticle porosity increased with sporulation. Microscopy confirmed marginal cuticle injury; although perforated, it tightly surrounded the base of conidiophores throughout sporulation and restricted water loss. The role of sustained redirection of water flow to the pathogen's hyphae in the subcuticular space above epidermal cells, to facilitate the acquisition and uptake of nutrients by V. inaequalis, is discussed.

Design of a Novel Chaotic Horse Herd Optimizer and Application to MPPT for Optimal Performance of Stand-Alone Solar PV Water Pumping Systems

A significant part of agricultural farms in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are in off-grid sites where there is a lack of sufficient water supply despite its availability from groundwater resources in several regions of the country. Since abundant agricultural production is mainly dependent on water, farmers are forced to pump water using diesel generators. This investigation deals with the increase in the effectiveness of a solar photovoltaic water pumping system (SPVWPS). It investigated, from a distinct perspective, the nonlinear behavior of photovoltaic modules that affects the induction motor-pump because of the repeated transitions between the current and the voltage. A new chaotic Horse Herd Optimization (CHHO)-based Maximum Power Point Tracking technique (MPPT) is proposed. This algorithm integrates the capabilities of chaotic search methods to solve the model with a boost converter to maximize power harvest while managing the nonlinear and unpredictable dynamical loads. The analytical modeling for the proposed SPVWPS components and the implemented control strategies of the optimal duty cycle of the DC–DC chopper duty cycle and the Direct Torque Control (DTC) of the Induction Motor (IM) has been conducted. Otherwise, the discussions and evaluations of the proposed model performance in guaranteeing the maximum water flow rate and the operation at MPP of the SPVWPS under partial shading conditions (PSC) and changing weather conditions have been carried out. A comparative study with competitive algorithms was conducted, and the proposed control system’s accuracy and its significant appropriateness to improve the tracking ability for SPVWPS application have been proven in steady and dynamic operating climates and PSC conditions.

Deep Circumflex Iliac Artery-vascularized Iliac Bone Graft for Femoral Head Osteonecrosis: Computed Tomography Anatomical Study.

Deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA)-vascularized iliac graft transposition is a method for treating femoral head osteonecrosis but with inconsistent efficacy. We aim to improve the method of this surgery by recommending the optimal location of the iliac pedicle to satisfy the vascular length for transposition and the blood supply of the vascularized iliac graft. The DCIA and its surrounding tissues were assessed on computed tomography angiography images for 100 sides (left and right) of 50 patients. The length of the vascular pedicle required for transposition and the length of the pedicle at different iliac spine positions were compared. The diameter and cross-sectional area of the DCIA and the distance between the DCIA and iliac spine were measured at different points to assess blood supply. We also compared differences in sex and left-right position. The diameter and cross-sectional area of the DCIA gradually decreased after crossing the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), and it approached the iliac bone. However, when the DCIA was 4 cm behind the ASIS (54 sides, 54%), it coursed posteriorly and superiorly away from the iliac spine. The vascular length of the pedicle was insufficient to transpose the vascularized iliac graft to the desired position when it was within 1 cm of the ASIS. The vascular length requirement was satisfied, and the blood supply was sufficient when the pedicle was positioned at 2 or 3 cm. To obtain a satisfactory pedicle length and sufficient blood supply, the DCIA pedicle of the vascularized iliac graft should be placed 2 to 3 cm behind the ASIS. The dissection of DCIA has slight differences in sex and left-right position due to anatomical differences.

Groundwater quality constrains and new opportunities for water supply from hard rock aquifers in a fast-expanding city of Sub-Saharan Africa, Yaoundé-Cameroon

Expanding cities and their water utilities face a significant challenge ensuring safe and sufficient water supply within a context of great uncertainty. Population growth, urbanisation and economic fluctuation coupled with climate variability further exacerbate these problems in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).The study focusing in Yaoundé-Cameroon, Central Africa demonstrates quality constrains and new opportunities of water supply from hard rock aquifers. Stable isotopes and hydrochemical parameters of 56 boreholes, 57 dug wells, 31 springs and 22 rivers, sampled in the dry and wet seasons were used to provide visibility of the groundwater system in addition to its interaction with surface water. Stable isotope results of δ18O and δ2H show uniform mixing of the groundwater masses from rainwater infiltration. Groundwater chemical compositions show variable mineralisation, linked to the environment in which water circulates and the land use change, reflecting classical polluted NaK–NO3 urban groundwater type and CaMg–HCO3 natural water quality in the peri-urban area. The enriched shallow urban groundwater is further reflected in surface water indicating interaction of the two water masses. Hydrochemical processes reveal pollution constrains in urban groundwater uses and the importance of rock-water interaction and residence time in the peri-urban groundwater. The defined NBL/TV coupled with the new water supply scheme could be helpful in the land use management practices, monitoring of the natural water quality and improving access to safe drinking water in SSA.

Gyroid‐Structured Au Materials with 3D Interconnected Networks for Highly Efficient Heat Localization and Solar Vapor Generation

Effective solar steam generation is regarded as a prospective technology for seawater desalination and water purification, owing to its capability of solar light absorption and heat conversion. Numerous efforts have been dedicated to exploring photothermal materials with various delicate microstructures. However, investigations of the coupling effect of structure and component still need to be done. Herein, a superior solar steam generator of 3D bicontinuous interconnected gyroid‐structured Au materials (Au gyroid) by depositing Au nanoparticles onto C. rubi butterfly wings is reported. Au gyroid is proven to possess the evaporation rate and efficiency of 1.29 kg m−2 h−1 and 74.0%, under 1 sun irradiation. What is more, the evaporation rate and efficiency of lattice‐structured Au materials (Au lattice) as a comparison are 1.14 kg m−2 h−1 and 65.4%. The outstanding performance of Au gyroid is mainly ascribed to its 3D densely distributed hotspots and interconnected nanochannels, which are beneficial for strong broadband light absorption, sufficient water supply, as well as confinement effect for water heating. This work will provide insight into the future design and synthesis of novel plasmonic absorbers in photothermal conversion, photocatalysis, and photovoltaic devices.

Pressure to provide milk among mothers of very low birth weight infants: an explorative study

BackgroundPump-dependent mothers of very low birth weight (VLBW, < 1500g) infants experience specific challenges achieving sufficient milk supply in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and are therefore less frequently able to achieve (exclusive) breast milk feeding. Stress due to the limitations on participating in the infant’s care may contribute to this problem. Some explorative studies suggest that pressure to provide milk may be an additional stressor in mothers. However, the type of pressure to provide milk perceived by mothers of VLBW infants has rarely been examined.MethodsA retrospective and anonymous questionnaire was conducted with mothers of VLBW infants aged 6 to 24 months at the time of data collection. Quantitative data and written comments were used to examine the mothers’ perceptions. Descriptive and bivariate tests (Spearman´s rho, Pearson’s chi2) were performed to show correlations between pressure to provide breast milk, parental stress (PSS:NICU: role alteration subscale), milk volume, and maternal factors. Pressure to provide milk was measured through two self-developed single items to differentiate between internal and external pressures.ResultsData of n = 533 mothers of VLBW infants was analysed. More than 70% of the mothers agreed that they pressured themselves to provide milk for their infant. In contrast, 34% of the mothers agreed that they felt pressure from outside to provide milk. Higher milk volume 14 days post-partum was significantly correlated with less internal (Spearman´s rho = 0.2017, p = 0.000) and less external pressure to provide milk (Spearman´s rho = 0.2991; p = 0.000). Higher PSS:NICU parental role alteration scores were significantly correlated with more internal (Spearman´s rho = -0.2865, p = 0.000) and more external pressure to provide milk (Spearman´s rho = -0.1478; p = 0.002). Milk volume 14 days post-partum and the PSS:NICU were not significantly correlated (Spearman´s rho = -0.0190; p = 0.701). Qualitative analyses highlighted these results and enhanced the bidirectional relationships between maternal pressure to provide milk and milk volume.ConclusionsEspecially internal pressure to provide milk is perceived by many mothers, being mutually dependent on milk supply and parental stress. Pressure to provide milk may be an important factor to decrease maternal stress in the NICU and, therefore, lead to more positive pumping and breastfeeding experiences. More research and validated instruments are needed to adequately measure pressure to provide milk with its different psychological, social, and environmental dimensions.

Chlorella-Loaded Antibacterial Microneedles for Microacupuncture Oxygen Therapy of Diabetic Bacterial Infected Wounds.

Hypoxia and infection are urgent clinical problems in chronic diabetic wounds. Herein, living Chlorella-loaded poly(ionic liquid)-based microneedles (PILMN-Chl) are constructed for microacupuncture oxygen and antibacterial therapy against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected chronic diabetic wounds. The PILMN-Chl can stably and continuously produce oxygen for more than 30h due to the photosynthesis of the loaded self-supported Chlorella. By combining the barrier penetration capabilities of microneedles, the continuous and sufficient oxygen supply of Chlorella, and the sterilization activities of PIL, the PILMN-Chl can accelerate chronic diabetic wounds in vivo by topical targeted sterilization and hypoxia relief in deep parts of wounds. Thus, the self-oxygen produced microneedles modality may provide a promising and facile therapeutic strategy for treating chronic, hypoxic, and infected diabetic wounds.