Recovering Sexuality after Childbirth. What Strategies Do Women Adopt? A Qualitative Study

This study aimed to determine the strategies used by women to adapt to the changes that affect the first sexual relations after childbirth. A qualitative study with a phenomenological approach used three data collection techniques (in-depth interviews, discussion groups, and online forums). Thirty-six women in the first six months postpartum participated in the study, from physiotherapy centers with maternal child specialties in several locations in Spain. Women with different types of delivery, presence or absence of perineal trauma during delivery, previous deliveries, and different types of breastfeeding were included. Among the strategies, closeness support and understanding were the ones that women used to adjust to the new situation, in order to improve the couple’s relationship, intimacy, and cope with the significant changes that appear in the first six months postpartum. Changes and adaptations in sexual practices become a tool for coping with a new sexuality, especially if it is affected by the presence of pain or discomfort associated with physical changes. Personal time facilitates emotional management and improvement of emotional changes related to the demands of motherhood. Accepting the changes that motherhood brings is critical to dealing with the new situation. Strategies used by postpartum women focus on acceptance, self-care, partner, couple time, personal time, and adapting encounters. The findings of this study are of interest to health professionals as they provide insight into how women cope with the changes that appear in the first six months postpartum. In this way, the findings will be able to transmit to couples the alternatives they can adopt before the resumption of sexual relations to improve satisfaction both as a couple and in terms of sexuality after childbirth.

In Situ Imaging of Electrode Thickness Growth and Electrolyte Depletion in Single-Crystal vs. Polycrystalline LiNixMnyCozO2/Graphite Pouch Cells using Multi-Scale Computed Tomography

Single-crystal LiNixMnyCozO2 (NMC) materials have recently garnered significant academic and commercial interest as they have been shown to provide exceptional long-term charge-discharge cycling stability in Li-ion cells. Understanding the degradation mechanisms occurring in conventional polycrystalline NMC materials in comparison to the more stable single-crystal equivalents has become a topic of significant interest. In this study, we demonstrate how multi-scale, in-situ computed tomography can be used to characterize important changes occurring in wound pouch cells containing polycrystalline or single-crystal NMC. These changes include cell-level phenomena (such as deformation of the jelly roll and electrolyte depletion) as well as electrode-scale phenomena (such as electrode thickness growth and electrode cracking). A set of twenty-one cells were scanned in total, consisting of three different electrodes: polycrystalline NMC622, single-crystal NMC811, and single-crystal NMC532. These studies were designed to characterize the effects of varying C-rate, depth of discharge, and duty cycle, so this work includes an analysis of these factors as they relate to physical changes taking place at the cell and electrode level.

Computational Modeling Intervertebral Disc Pathophysiology: A Review

Lower back pain is a medical condition of epidemic proportion, and the degeneration of the intervertebral disc has been identified as a major contributor. The etiology of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is multifactorial, depending on age, cell-mediated molecular degradation processes and genetics, which is accelerated by traumatic or gradual mechanical factors. The complexity of such intertwined biochemical and mechanical processes leading to degeneration makes it difficult to quantitatively identify cause–effect relationships through experiments. Computational modeling of the IVD is a powerful investigative tool since it offers the opportunity to vary, observe and isolate the effects of a wide range of phenomena involved in the degenerative process of discs. This review aims at discussing the main findings of finite element models of IVD pathophysiology with a special focus on the different factors contributing to physical changes typical of degenerative phenomena. Models presented are subdivided into those addressing role of nutritional supply, progressive biochemical alterations stemming from an imbalance between anabolic and catabolic processes, aging and those considering mechanical factors as the primary source that induces morphological change within the disc. Limitations of the current models, as well as opportunities for future computational modeling work are also discussed.

GIS, Positioning, and Imagery Tools

The catastrophic eruption in the world scenario of the breaking pandemic forced the application of all existent scientific knowledge, but also triggered the development of new technical tools and procedures. This chapter is focused on setting forth the practical technological efforts based on the spatial georeferencing by coordinate systems and on the treatment of satellite images as means for tracking the positive cases, for recognizing the spatial infection´s behavior, and for identifying the real physical changes in the spatial landscape. The cases set forth here pertain to three techniques, namely the development of visual dashboards, the tracking resources developed, and the deployment of imagery captured by satellite perception.

Spontaneous pre-axial polydactyly in Swiss mice

ABSTRACT: Spontaneous polydactyly has been described in several species, but only one report about it in Swiss mice. The aim of the current study was to report the spontaneous occurrence of pre-axial polydactyly in Swiss mice. Clinical examination showed one extra toe laterally to the first digit, in the plantar region, alopecia in the back, altered face growth anatomy and changed perineal region anatomy. Pre-axial polydactyly in the tibial side, fused metatarsals and Y-shaped free phalanges were evidenced in the radiographic images. Pre-axial polydactyly observed in the plantar region differed from that in reports on albino Swiss mice with post-axial polydactyly (Po/Po+) phenotype featured by one extra toe in the ulnar side of one, or both, front limbs, which is the dominant feature. The observed findings highlight the importance of both clinical examinations and close attention by professionals involved in rodents’ breeding on physical changes resulting from different causes, including the genetic ones, since they reveal mutations and, sometimes, new biomodels.

Adolescent, Radicalism, and Terrorism in Indonesia: Experts’ View

Terrorism involving adolescents in Indonesia has been started since 2009. Currently, the number has reached about 16.5% of the total number of terrorism cases in Indonesia. Referring to this critical situation, we gathered experts in radicalism and terrorism issues in two focus group discussions (FGD) to examine the situation of adolescents and radicalism and terrorism in Indonesia, the vulnerability factors of adolescents, and the prevention strategies that can be done in the future. As a result, we find that radicalism has penetrated in young groups in Indonesia, even at an earlier age. This situation is supported by their vulnerability as an adolescent, including physical, psychological, and psychosocial vulnerabilities. Physical changes that happen in adolescence impact on psychological and psychosocial changes. In general, the need for self-existence becomes the source of all their vulnerabilities. Adolescent efforts to achieve their self-existence in society place them at risk of becoming the target of recruitment by radical and terror groups. Therefore, in the context of preventing radicalism and terrorism among adolescents in Indonesia, alternative identity is important to be pursued further.

Damage evaluation and precursor of sandstone under the uniaxial compression: Insights from the strain-field heterogeneity

The stress-induced microcrack evolution in rock specimens causes a series of physical changes and heterogeneous deformations. Some of these attributes (such as sound, electricity, heat, etc.) have been effectively used to identify the damage state and precursory information of the rock specimens. However, the strain-field heterogeneity has not been investigated previously. In this study, the relationship of the strain-field heterogeneity and damage evolution of three sandstone specimens under the uniaxial compressive load was analyzed statistically. The acoustic emission (AE) and two-dimensional digital image correlation were employed for real-time evaluation of the AE parameters and strain-field heterogeneity. The results showed that the strain-field heterogeneity was closely related to the rock damage that amplified with the applied stress, and exhibited two features; numerical difference and spatial concentration. Subsequently, these two features were characterized by the two proposed heterogeneous quantitative indicators (i.e., the degree and space heterogeneities). Further, their four transition processes were in agreement with the damage stages confirmed by AE parameters: a relatively constant trend; growth with a relatively constant rate; drastic increase trend; and increase with a high rate to maximum value. Moreover, a time sequence chain for damage precursor was built, where the heterogeneous quantitative indicators and AE parameters differed in sensitivity to microcrack development and can be used as a damage warning at the varying magnitude of the external load.

Effect of Carbonized Tangerines Prepared Using Plasma as Fertilizer: Case Study—Lettuce Farming

This study investigates the soil chemical changes and crop growth characteristics after treatment with carbonized tangerines prepared using plasma. To determine the effect of the carbonized tangerines on crop, four test plots were treated with chaff charcoal or different ratios of coco peat and carbonized tangerines. Lettuce was grown on the plots, and the chemical changes in soil and physical changes in the lettuce were observed. Chemical changes in the soil before and after the carbonized tangerine treatments were very similar to those before and after chaff charcoal treatment. Lettuce leaf length, width, weight, and count in carbonized tangerine-treated plots significantly increased than those in the untreated plot. Our results found that the carbonization of tangerines using plasma can be a good alternative for processing many by-products generated during cultivation. In addition, the possibility of using carbonized tangerines as biochar has been explored.

Penerapan Senam Kegel Untuk Menurunkan Inkontinensia Urine Pada Lansia

When someone is getting older, usually she has some change, whether physical, biological, psychological, and mental ones. One of the physical changes is urinary incontinence disorder. It is uncontrolled release of urine that causes hygiene and social problems. This paper whitten to apply kegel exercises to reduce urinary incontinence disorder in elderly. It focused on two families with elderly who get this disorder. The result shows both cannot control their urination into the restroom. After applying the intervention, the first one still cannot control, yet. However, the second one has succeeded in controlling his urination, until he went to the restroom. Thus, it could be concluded this exercises is able to reduce urinary incontinence in elderly. Therefore, it is expected for them to practice it regularly. Keywords: urinary incontinence, elderly, kegel exercise AbstrakMenua biasanya mengalami perubahan-perubahan, baik perubahan fisik biologis maupun psikologis dan mental. Salah satu perubahan fisik pada lansia yaitu mengalami gangguan inkontinensia urine. Inkontinensia urine adalah keluarnya urin yang tidak terkontrol sehingga menyebabkan gangguan kebersihan dan sosial. Karya Tulis Ilmiah ini bertujuan untuk menerapkan senam kegel untuk menurunkan inkontinensia urine pada lansia. Fokus studi kasus pada karya tulis ilmiah ini adalah 2 keluarga dengan lansia yang mengalami inkontinensia urine. Hasil menunjukkan sebelum intervensi kedua pasien tidak dapat menahan BAK sampai ke kamar mandi. Setelah intervensi pada pasien 1 dapat menahan BAK belum dapat menahan sampai ke kamar mandi. Sedangkan pada pasien 2 dapat menahan BAK sampai ke kamar mandi. Kesimpulannya senam kegel dapat menurunkan inkontinensia urine pada lansia. Saran bagi pasien untuk melakukan senam kegel dengan rutin dan teratur. Kata kunci: Inkontinensia urine; lansia; senam kegel