Search

Earth Observation (EO) spacecraft plays a pivotal role in various critical applications impacting life on Earth. Historically, these systems have adhered to conventional operational paradigms, namely the “mow-the-lawn” and “bent pipe” approaches. In these paradigms, operational schedules are formulated on the ground and subsequently uploaded to the spacecraft for execution. Execution involves either systematically acquiring vast amounts of data (mow-the-lawn) or targeting specific areas of interest as defined by end users or operators. We aim to depart from these traditional methodologies by integrating onboard artificial intelligence, near real-time communication, and new observing strategies in one system called CogniSAT-6. These innovations will amplify the amount, speed, and quality of the information yielded by such a system by up to an order of magnitude. This article provides an overview of the current state of the art in autonomous EO spacecraft and the application of onboard processing in EO spacecraft. An overview is given of the CogniSAT-6 mission, its concept of operations, system architecture, and data processing design. In addition, the first results of our in-orbit functional tests are presented. Since we believe that the technology presented here will have a significant impact on society, an ethical framework for such systems is presented. Finally, the benefits of the technology and implications for EO systems going forward are discussed.

ATG5 is one of the core autophagy proteins with additional functions such as noncanonical membrane atg8ylation, which among a growing number of biological outputs includes control of tuberculosis in animal models. Here, we show that ATG5 associates with retromer’s core components VPS26, VPS29, and VPS35 and modulates retromer function. Knockout of ATG5 blocked trafficking of a key glucose transporter sorted by the retromer, GLUT1, to the plasma membrane. Knockouts of other genes essential for membrane atg8ylation, of which ATG5 is a component, affected GLUT1 sorting, indicating that membrane atg8ylation as a process affects retromer function and endosomal sorting. The contribution of membrane atg8ylation to retromer function in GLUT1 sorting was independent of canonical autophagy. These findings expand the scope of membrane atg8ylation to specific sorting processes in the cell dependent on the retromer and its known interactors.

The Federal Cervical Cancer Collaborative (FCCC) was established by the Health Resources and Services Administration Office of Women's Health and its interagency partners within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its primary mission, aligned with the goals of the Cancer Moonshot (https://www.cancer.gov/research/key‐initiatives/moonshot‐cancer‐initiative/implementation/prevention‐early‐detection), is to accelerate control of cervical cancer within safety‐net settings of care. This interagency partnership works in close collaboration to reduce disparities in cervical cancer care, particularly among populations that are geographically isolated, economically challenged, and medically underserved. The FCCC bridges federal priorities of cancer research from the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute to health care delivery in Health Resources and Services Administration–supported and safety‐net settings of care. In this commentary, FCCC activities are discussed to improve cervical cancer prevention and control through vaccination, screening, and management of preinvasive cervical disease in safety‐net settings of care. These activities include the development and implementation of an evidence‐based, action‐oriented provider toolkit and federal opportunities report. The FCCC's efforts to increase the readiness of safety‐net settings of care to implement the 2019 American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology Risk‐Based Management Consensus Guidelines for patients with abnormal cervical cancer screening results are discussed. Also described are the results from a survey of National Cancer Institute–designated cancer centers, designed to inform future efforts to strengthen referrals and care coordination with safety‐net settings of care. The Federal Cervical Cancer Collaborative strives to reduce the burden of cervical cancer for all individuals in the United States through meaningful and culturally appropriate public health interventions. This commentary discusses activities of the Federal Cervical Cancer Collaborative to improve cervical cancer prevention and care in safety‐net settings of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM) are comorbid disorders with overlapping symptoms. Research highlights autonomic dysfunction compared to healthy individuals, particularly involving the sympathetic branch. While past reviews focused on neurophysiological assessments, this systematic review summarises biological adrenergic markers, offering deeper insights into the observed sympathetic dysfunction in ME/CFS and FM aiming to identify targetable pathophysiological mechanisms. Methods: A systematic search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Scopus. Studies investigating peripheral biological markers of adrenergic function in patients with ME/CFS or FM compared to healthy controls at baseline were included. Meta‐analyses were performed using R statistical software. Results: This meta‐analysis of 37 studies, encompassing 543 ME/CFS patients and 651 FM patients, compared with 747 and 447 healthy controls, respectively, revealed elevated adrenaline (SMD =.49 [.31–.67]; Z = 5.29, p <.01) and β1 adrenergic receptor expression (SMD =.79 [.06–1.52]; Z = 2.13; p =.03) in blood of ME/CFS patients at rest. Additionally, patients with ME/CFS had a greater increase in the expression of α2A adrenergic receptor (AR, SMD =.57 [.18–.97]; Z = 2.85, p <.01), β2 AR (SMD =.41 [.02–.81]; Z = 2.04; p =.04) and COMT (SMD =.42 [.03–.81]; Z = 2.11; p =.03) after exercise and an increased response of noradrenaline to an orthostatic test (SMD =.11 [−.47 to −.70]; Z = 2.10; p =.04), both found in blood. FM patients showed no significant differences at baseline but exhibited a diminished adrenaline response to exercise (SMD = −.79 [−1.27 to −.30]; Z = −3.14; p <.01). Conclusion: This systematic review and meta‐analysis revealed adrenergic dysfunction mainly in patients with ME/CFS. Higher baseline adrenaline levels and atypical responses to exercise in ME/CFS indicate that sympathetic dysfunction, underscored by adrenergic abnormalities, is more involved in the pathophysiology of ME/CFS rather than FM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hip fracture is a major health concern and the use of an indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) constitutes a significant burden on elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. Local problem: The institution had a high rate of urinary tract infection (UTI) and IUC reinsertion after hip fracture surgery. Methods: A pre/post-implementation design was used for this quality improvement initiative. Interventions: A nurse-driven process was developed and implemented to improve the successful removal of IUC among patients after hip fracture surgery. Results: There was a significant reduction in post-operative urinary retention (P = .042), UTI rate (P = .047), and IUC reinsertion (P = .042) in the post-implementation group. IUC duration decreased by 1.1 days, however this was not significant (P = .206). Nurse compliance with following the new process was 93.3%. Conclusion: The nurse-driven process designed for elderly patients following hip fracture surgery presents a promising approach to reducing IUC reinsertion rates and UTI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preterm birth poses a major public health challenge, with significant and heterogeneous developmental impacts. Latent profile analysis was applied to the National Institutes of Health Toolbox performance of 1891 healthy prematurely born children from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study (970 boys, 921 girls; 10.00 ± 0.61 years; 1.3% Asian, 13.7% Black, 17.5% Hispanic, 57.0% White, 10.4% Other). Three distinct neurocognitive profiles emerged: consistently performing above the norm (19.7%), mixed scores (41.0%), and consistently performing below the norm (39.3%). These profiles were associated with lasting cognitive, neural, behavioral, and academic differences. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing diverse developmental trajectories in prematurely born children, advocating for personalized diagnosis and intervention to enhance care strategies and long‐term outcomes for this heterogeneous population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ignition, combustion characteristics, and cenosphere formation of single droplets combustion of four vacuum residues (VRs) from different refineries with various asphaltene contents were studied experimentally. The single droplets of VRs were suspended at the tip of a silicon carbide fiber and heated in air at temperatures of 973 and 1023 K, respectively, in an electrically heated tube furnace. The ignition and combustion behavior of the VRs were recorded using a CCD camera, which enabled the determination of droplet size, ignition delay time, flame duration, and cenosphere size. The effect of initial droplet size, gas temperature, and asphaltene content on the ignition delay time, flame duration, cenosphere morphology, and particle size were investigated. The whole ignition and combustion process of single droplets of the VRs consisted of five stages in succession: (1) pre-ignition, mainly involving the evaporation of highly volatile components from the droplet surface; (2) steady combustion of fuel vapors evaporated from the droplet surface; (3) splashing combustion of fuel vapors evaporated from droplet interior; (4) disruptive combustion due to thermal decomposition of asphaltene; and (5) solid residue ignition and combustion. A visible and sooty flame was formed upon ignition and lasted during stages 2–4. The droplet size increased sharply in the stage 4 due to the thermal decomposition of asphaltene, which was more profound for VRs with higher asphaltene content and at higher gas temperatures. The ignition delay time increased with increasing initial droplet size and gas temperature but varied little as the asphaltene content in the VRs increased, suggesting that the ignition process of VRs was controlled by the vaporization of high volatile components on the droplet surface. The thermal decomposition of asphaltene produced solid residue, which was in the form of a cenosphere with the shell thickness being ca. 20 μm and a number of blowholes presented in the shell. The VRs with higher asphaltene content had more and bigger blowholes. The ratio of cenosphere particle size to initial droplet size is independent of the initial droplet size but almost increased linearly with the asphaltene content in the VRs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has short- and long-term health effects, including physical injuries and traumatic brain injury, as well as sexual, reproductive, and mental health issues. However, accessing necessary health care is often challenging for IPV survivors and became even more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined access to health care among those affected by IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic to better connect survivors to health and social support services. Methods: The Health Resources and Services Administration's Office of Women's Health partnered with its Bureau of Primary Health Care, the Administration for Children and Families' Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (Hotline) on the 2-year Survivor Health Connection Project. The Hotline administered 2 surveys to its contacts: a 2-question postinteraction survey from March 29, 2021, through September 30, 2022, and a longer focused survey in 2021 and 2022 that measured barriers and restrictions to accessing health care, telehealth safety, and interactions with health care providers. Results: Of 9918 respondents to the postinteraction survey, 6173 (62.2%) reported current health needs related to their abusive experience. Nearly half of 242 respondents to the 2021 survey (n = 106, 43.8%) indicated that the frequency or intensity of abuse increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 157 of 338 respondents to the 2022 survey (46.4%) reported that their partner had controlled and/or restricted their access to health care. Participants described barriers to accessing health care, including finances, health insurance coverage, and transportation. Conclusions: Findings illuminate opportunities to further support the health and social needs of those experiencing IPV, including continued coordination of efforts across health care and social service delivery partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]