Fluorine-free superhydrophobic characterized coatings: A mini review

The scientific fraternity and coating companies have researched and developed coatings with superhydrophobic features for a wide range of applications, varying from automotive, oceanic, pharmaceutical, and thermal and power sectors, over the preceding few years. The self-cleaning features of superhydrophobic surfaces exhibit pronounced dust repelling and lower dust adhesiveness qualities, along with incomparable water repellence for maritime, automotive, and pharmaceutical applications. The advancement of super-hydrophobic surfaces for averting the accrual of impurities on surfaces is an active space of exploration globally. A lesser hysteresis of contact angle leads to drops of water sliding effortlessly on such surfaces. The solid surfaces’ surface energy can be weakened by fixing materials of lesser surface energy on the exterior, which can be performed by the following dual methods; either by fixing materials of reduced surface energy straight onto the exterior of a substrate in the form of a coating of that material, or by fixing materials of less surface energy on the exterior of nano-architectural structures and then dropping the coating of those nanoscale materials on the exterior of the substrate. The generation of nanoscale irregularities on substrates by dropping nanostructure layers on surfaces makes it an attractive option since, usually, nanomaterials have a minimum of one dimension, ranging from 1 - 100 nm. The nanostructures’ sizes unveil exceptional physical and chemical characteristics, principally owing to their greater specific surface area to volume quotient. This review encompasses the non-fluorinated superhydrophobic coatings developed to date.

More Stick than Carrot?: Xi’s Policy toward Establishment Intellectuals

After President Xi Jinping came to office, the Chinese government tightened its ideological control over establishment intellectuals and particularly the university teachers. This project aims to answer the question of why and when an authoritarian state chooses to do so. It focuses on the CCP’s policy toward establishment intellectuals under Xi and explores the most applicable explanation for this policy shift. Based on the existing literature on the cyclical model of state-intellectual relations in China, we propose a new model of “Dual Methods in State-Intellectual Relations.” The model demonstrates that the CCP has employed dual methods of repression and co-optation on intellectuals adopting different roles. Leaders choose repression when they perceive that the legitimacy of their rule is challenged externally or internally by criticism and collective actions led by intellectuals. In this case, the goal of repression is to either set up a new “red line” or warn intellectuals that they have crossed it.

Improving public health service delivery response to address contraceptive needs of socio-economically disadvantaged HIV positive people in Maharashtra, India

Background People living with HIV (PLHIV) receive free antiretroviral treatment (ART) in public health facilities of India. With improved life expectancy, unmet sexual and reproductive health needs of PLHIV have to be addressed through a converged programmatic response strategy. Evidence shows that socioeconomically disadvantaged women are most vulnerable to high reproductive morbidities, especially HIV positive women with an unmet need of contraception. Methods Programmatic convergence by linking ART and family planning services were strengthened at two public health facilities (district hospitals) generally accessed by disadvantaged socio-economic sections of the society. Barriers to linking services including stigma and discrimination were addressed through analysis of existing linkage situation, sensitization and training of healthcare providers and system-level interventions. This facilitated provider-initiated assessment of contraceptive needs of PLHIV, counseling about dual contraception using a couple approach, linkage to family planning centers and maintaining data about these indicators. Six hundred eligible PLHIV seeking care at ART centers were enrolled and followed up for a duration of 6 months. Acceptance of family planning services as a result of the intervention, use of dual contraception methods and their determinants were assessed. Results Eighty-seven percent HIV couples reached FP centers and 44.6% accepted dual methods at the end of the study period. Dual methods such as oral contraceptive pills (56.2%), IUCDs (19.4%), female sterilization (11.6%), injectable contraception (9.9%) and vasectomy (2.9%) in addition to condoms were the most commonly accepted methods. Condom use remained regular and consistently high throughout. The study witnessed seven unintended pregnancies, all among exclusive condom users. These women availed medical abortion services and accepted dual methods after counseling. Female index participants, concordant couples, counseling by doctors and women with CD4 count above 741 had higher odds of accepting dual contraception methods. Standard operating procedures (SOP) were developed in consultation with key stakeholders to address operational linkage of HIV and family programs. Conclusion The study saw significant improvement in acceptance of dual contraception by PLHIV couples as a result of the intervention. Implementation of SOPs with supportive supervision can ensure efficient linkage of programs and provide holistic sexual and reproductive healthcare for PLHIV in India.