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NASA NTRS1976

Body composition changes in men and women after 2-3 weeks of bed rest

Several parameters of body composition were measured in eight men before and after 14 days of continuous recumbency, and in eight women before and after 17 days of recumbency. The parameters measured included body weight, body water, body potassium, plasma volume, and plasma protein concentrations. From these, values were derived for body fat content, lean body mass, body mass, and circulating plasma proteins. In general, the men and women responded similarly to continuous recumbency. Characteristically, there was significant reduction of plasma volume and body potassium in both groups. The women showed a significant reduction in circulating plasma protein, entirely in the albumin fraction; a similar change was observed in the men. The women, but not the men, showed a significant increase in circulating fibrinogen. Both men and women lost body cell mass, while body fat content remained the same or tended to increase slightly. It is expected that similar changes would occur in weightlessness. It is further concluded that women should tolerate the weightlessness of space flight physiologically as well as men.

Pace, N.↗

NASA NTRS1999

Women's Health Issues in the Space Environment

Women have been an integral part of US space crews since Sally Ride's mission in 1983, and a total of 40 women have been selected as US astronauts. The first Russian female cosmonaut flew in 1963. This presentation examines the health care and reproductive aspects of flying women in space. In addition, the reproductive implications of delaying one's childbearing for an astronaut career and the impact of new technology such as assisted reproductive techniques are examined. The reproductive outcomes of the US female astronauts who have become pregnant following space flight exposure are also presented. Since women have gained considerable operational experience on the Shuttle, Mir and during EVA, the unique operational considerations for preflight certification, menstruation control and hygiene, contraception, and urination are discussed. Medical and surgical implications for women on long-duration missions to remote locations are still evolving, and enabling technologies for health care delivery are being developed. There has been considerable progress in the development of microgravity surgical techniques, including laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, and laparotomy. The concepts of prevention of illness, conversion of surgical conditions to medically treatable conditions and surgical intervention for women on long duration space flights are considered.

Jennings, Richard T.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Postspaceflight orthostatic hypotension occurs mostly in women and is predicted by low vascular resistance

About 20% of astronauts suffer postspaceflight presyncope. We studied pre- to postflight (5- to 16-day missions) cardiovascular responses to standing in 35 astronauts to determine differences between 1) men and women and 2) presyncopal and nonpresyncopal groups. The groups were presyncopal women, presyncopal men, and nonpresyncopal men based on their ability to stand for 10 min postflight. Preflight, women and presyncopal men had low vascular resistance, with the women having the lowest. Postflight, women experienced higher rates of presyncope (100 vs. 20%; P = 0.001) and greater losses of plasma volume (20 vs. 7%; P < 0.05) than men. Also, presyncopal subjects had lower standing mean arterial pressure (P < or = 0.001) and vascular resistance (P < 0.05), smaller increases in norepinephrine (P < or = 0.058) and greater increases in epinephrine (P < or = 0.058) than nonpresyncopal subjects. Presyncopal subjects had a strong dependence on plasma volume to maintain standing stroke volume. These findings suggest that postflight presyncope is greatest in women, and this can be ascribed to a combination of inherently low-resistance responses, a strong dependence on volume status, and relative hypoadrenergic responses. Conversely, high vascular resistance and postflight hyperadrenergic responses prevent presyncope.

Flight Experiment↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Advocacy and Allyship by Men for Women in Engineering-Related Fields at the College Level

Diversity enables better and more creative problem solving, with greater financial impact on organizations, according to multiple studies in the past 10 years. One long-standing limitation on diversity in technology fields is the persistently-low representation of females. This is often seen in the collegiate environment more than in the professional world, and greater efforts need to be made in college classrooms and labs to address it. Most succinctly, more men need to directly involve themselves as advocates for and allies of women. This panel engages with professionals of both binary gender identities who currently ally and advocate for women in engineering, computing, and technology fields. The goals of the panel are to identify common reasons why men should advocate for women, create support around the simple actions that can be taken in advocacy, and encourage greater allyship for women in the academic world and beyond. The panelists include both men and women from across multiple intersectional identities. The questions include (1) for what reasons are you an ally or advocate for women in engineering-related fields, (2) what experiences have you had in which you have had to take immediate action as an advocate or ally, (3) what do you recommend for easy-to-implement actions to advocate, and (4) how can advocates and allies help implement change at their own institutions. For the paper, each panelist would be asked these questions and their answers would be provided unedited, followed by a summary discussion of actionable items. For the panel presentation session, each panelist will have the opportunity to highlight aspects of their answers bring life to their thoughts to each question and together with other members of the panel can build for an in-depth discussion.

Brian Kirkmeyer↗

DOE OSTI2021

There from the Beginning: The Women of Los Alamos National Laboratory Supporting National and International Nuclear Security

From the beginning of the Manhattan Project in the early 1940s, the women of what would become Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) worked in technical positions alongside their male counterparts, played a key role as computers, and worked in administrative jobs as secretaries, phone operators, bookkeepers, and on behalf of the U.S. Army in the Women’s Army Corps. Throughout the history of the Laboratory, women experts at LANL helped establish and lead important national and international security programs, with careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Over time, the women of Los Alamos have come together under various Employee Resource Groups, such as the Atomic Women, to help the next generation succeed in their technical fields. The Laboratory’s commitment to diversity and inclusion continues to this day, with current Laboratory Director Thom Mason leading LANL as the first national laboratory to join the Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

DOE OSTI2022

Social Disparities of Pain and Pain Intensity Among Women Diagnosed With Early Stage Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women in the United States and pain is the most common side effect of breast cancer and its treatment. Yet, the relationships between social determinants of pain and pain experience/intensity remain under-investigated. We examined the associations between social determinants of pain both at the individual level and the neighborhood level to understand how social conditions are associated with pain perception among early stage breast cancer patients. Methods: We conducted integrated statistical analysis of 1,191 women with early stage breast cancer treated at a large cancer center in Memphis, Tennessee. Combining electronic health records, patient-reported data and census data regarding residential address at the time of first diagnosis, we evaluated the relationships between social determinants and pain perception. Pain responses were self-reported by a patient as a numerical rating scale score at the patient’s initial diagnosis and follow-up clinical visits. We implemented two sets of statistical analyses of the zero-inflated Poisson model and estimated the associations between neighborhood poverty prevalence and breast cancer pain intensity. After adjustment for demographic characteristics, cancer stage, and chemotherapy, pain perception was significantly associated with poverty and blight level of the neighborhood. Results: Among women living in the highest-poverty areas, the odds of reporting pain were 2.48 times higher than those in the lowest-poverty area. Women living in the highest-blight area had 5.43 times higher odds of reporting pain than those in the lowest-blight area. Neighborhood-level social determinants were significantly associated with pain intensity among women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Conclusions: Distressed neighborhood conditions are significantly associated with higher pain perception. Breast cancer patients living in socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods and in poor environmental conditions reported higher pain severity compared to patients from less distressed neighborhoods. Therefore, post-diagnosis pain treatment design needs to be tailored to the social determinants of the breast cancer patients.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

NASA NTRS1986

Cardiovascular responses of women to lower body negative pressure

The effects of lower body negative pressure (LBNP) on the cardiovascular response of 20 women between 23-43 years are evaluated. Calf circumference and cardiovascular data were recorded for women in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle at -30, -40, and -50 mm Hg LBNP. The data reveal that the two menstrual phases did not cause differences in the way women respond to LBNP. It is observed that during LBNP calf circumference is enlarged; transthoracic impedance, and heart rate are increased; stroke volume, left ventricular ejection time, the Heather Index of contractility and systolic pressure, and cardiac output are reduced; and total peripheral resistance is elevated. The experimental data are compared to Montgomery et al. (1979). It is noted that the response of women to -50 mm Hg LBNP is similar to that of men; however, women adapt to stresses on the cardiovascular system with greater heart rate adjustments.

Frey, M. A. B.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Responses of women to orthostatic and exercise stresses

The results are presented from a special physiological study of women at the Johnson Space Center in 1976 to 1977. Its purpose was to establish a large (98 subjects) database from normal working women. The data sets are medical historical, clinical, anthropometric, and stress response statistics useful for establishing medical criteria for selecting women astronauts. Stressors were lower body negative pressure and static standing (both orthostatic) and treadmill exercise (ergometric). Data shown are original individual values with analyses and subsets, and statistical summaries and correlations relating to human responses to microgravity. Similarities appear between the characteristics of women in this study and those of women astronauts currently flying in Shuttle crews.

Hoffler, G. W.↗

NASA NTRS1994

A biased historical perspective of women in the engineering field at Dryden from 1946 to November 1992

Being a woman in engineering, and in particular, being the woman with the dubious distinction of having the most years at Dryden, gives the author a long-term perspective on the women who worked in the engineering field and their working environment. The working environment for the women was influenced by two main factors. One factor was the Dryden's growth of 14 persons (2 of them women) at the end of 1946 to the present size. The other factor was the need for programming knowledge when the digital computers came into use. Women have been involved with flight research at Dryden since the days of the first transonic and supersonic airplanes. This paper uses available records, along with memory, to document the number of women in engineering at Dryden, to comment about observed trends, and to make personal observations.

Powers, Sheryll Goecke↗

NASA NTRS1992

Blood volume and orthostatic responses of men and women to a 13-day bedrest

Changes in blood volume during space flight are thought to contribute to decrements in postflight orthostatic function. The purpose of this study was to determine whether gender affects red cell mass and plasma volume during a short exposure to simulated microgravity, and whether gender differences in orthostatic tolerance ensure. Methods: Ten men (31.5 plus or minus 5.2 years, STD) and eleven normally menstruating women (33.3) plus or minus 6.0 STD) underwent 13 days of 6 degree head-down bedrest. Plasma volume (Iodine 125 labeled human serum albumin) and red cell mass (Carbon 51 labeled red blood cells) were measured before bedrest and on bedrest day 13. On the same days, orthostatic tolerance (OT) was determined as the maximal pressure during a presyncopalimited lower body negative pressure test. Results: Plasma volume (PV) and red cell mass (RCM) decreased in both groups with a greater PV decrease (P less than 0.05) in men (6.3 plus or minus 0.7 ml/kg) than in women (4.1 plus or minus 0.6 ml/kg). Decreases in red cell mass were similar (1.7 plus or minus 0.2 ml/kg in men and 1.7 plus or minus 0.2 ml/kg in women). OT was similar for men and women before bedrest (minus 78 plus or minus 6 mmHg in men versus minus 70 plus or minus 4 mmHg in women) and decreased by a similar degree (by an average of 11 mmHg in both groups) after bedrest. The changes in OT did not correlate with changes in plasma volume during bedrest (r(exp 2) = 0.002). Conclusion: Thus, although female hormones may protect PV during bedrest, they do no appear to offer an advantage in terms of loss of orthostatic function.

Fortney, S.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Cardiovascular responses to postural changes: differences with age for women and men

The cardiovascular responses to postural change, and how they are affected by aging, are inadequately described in women. Therefore, the authors examined the influence of age and sex on the responses of blood pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, and other variables to change in posture. Measurements were made after 10 minutes each in the supine, seated, and standing positions in 22 men and 25 women who ranged in age from 21 to 59 years. Several variables differed, both by sex and by age, when subjects were supine. On rising, subjects' diastolic and mean arterial pressures, heart rate, total peripheral resistance (TPR), and thoracic impedance increased; cardiac output, stroke volume, and mean stroke ejection rate decreased; and changes in all variables, except heart rate, were greater from supine to sitting than sitting to standing. The increase in heart rate was greater in the younger subjects, and increases in TPR and thoracic impedance were greater in the older subjects. Stroke volume decreased less, and TPR and thoracic impedance increased more, in the women than in the men. The increase in TPR was particularly pronounced in the older women. These studies show that the cardiovascular responses to standing differ, in some respects, between the sexes and with age. The authors suggest that the sex differences are, in part, related to greater decrease of thoracic blood volume with standing in women than in men, and that the age differences result, in part, from decreased responsiveness of the high-pressure baroreceptor system.

Posture/physiology↗

NASA NTRS1992

Age-related decrements in bone mineral density in women over 65

Age-related changes in bone density contribute to the risk of fractures. To describe the relationship between age and bone mass in elderly women, we studied a large cohort of women over age 65 years who were recruited from population-based lists in four cities in the United States. Bone density in g/cm2 was measured by single-photon absorptiometry (SPA) and dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the distal and proximal radius, the calcaneus, the lumbar spine, and the proximal femur. Centralized data collection was used to control data quality and consistency. We found a strong inverse relationship between bone density and age for most sites. Decrements in bone density between women aged 65-69 years and women 85 years and older exceeded 16% in all regions except the spine, where the difference between the two age groups was 6%. Ward's triangle and the calcaneus exhibited the largest decrements, with 26 and 21%, respectively. The estimates of annual changes in bone mineral density by linear regression at sites other than the spine ranged from -0.82% at the femoral neck and trochanter to -1.30% at Ward's triangle. Correlations between the different regions ranged from r = 0.51 between the proximal radius and Ward's triangle to r = 0.66 between the distal radius and calcaneus. We conclude that the inverse relationship between age and bone mass measured by absorptiometry techniques in white women continues into the ninth decade of life. The relationship is strongest for bone density of Ward's triangle and the calcaneus and weakest for the spine.

NASA Discipline Musculoskeletal↗

NASA NTRS2001

Post-Spaceflight Orthostatic Hypotension Occurs Mostly in Women and is Predicted by Low Vascular Resistance

About 20% of astronauts suffer post-spaceflight presyncope, but the underlying etiology remains elusive. We studied responses to standing in 36 astronauts before and after spaceflight (5- 16 days). Individuals were separated into presyncopal women, presyncopal men, and non-presyncopal men based on their ability to stand for 10 min postflight. Preflight, presyncopal women and presyncopal men had low vascular resistance, with the women having the lowest. Postflight, women experienced significantly higher rates of presyncope (P<0.01) and significantly greater losses of plasma volume than the men (P<0.05). Both presyncopal women and men had lower standing arterial pressure (P<=0.001) and vascular resistance (P<0.05), smaller increases in norepinephrine (P<=0.058) and greater increases in epinephrine (P<=0.058) than nonpresyncopal men. Both presyncopal groups had a strong dependence (P<=0.05) on plasma volume to maintain standing stroke volume. These findings suggest that postflight presyncope is ascribed to a combination of inherently low resistance responses, a strong dependence on volume status, and spaceflight-induced hypoadrenergic responses. In contrast, high vascular resistance and spaceflight-induced hyperadrenergic responses prevent presyncope.

Waters, Wendy W.↗

DOE OSTI2023

An Overview of Global Gender Initiatives for Women in the Nuclear and Radiological Fields

Currently, women make up less than a quarter of nuclear and radiological industry professionals; women are consistently underrepresented in leadership positions in the sector and are a minority in WMD1 and STEM classes. Recognizing this problem in our industry, a growing number of region-specific groups (the Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network2 and WiN Global subgroup Women in Nuclear Southeast Asia3 ), government created initiatives, and various fellowship and grant programs (the IAEA’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme4 and CFRD Global’s grant program5 ) work to increase female participation and success in this historically male-dominated profession. While these valuable initiatives exist, there is no single, consolidated collection of resources for women in nuclear and radiological fields. This paper will attempt to fill that gap. It will: provide an overview of gender-based initiatives and opportunities, investigate these organizations’ mission and purpose, highlight the lack of gender statistics at all working levels as a barrier for measuring gender parity improvement (site, state, country and international), and propose that these organizations leverage their networks and expertise to enhance gendered data collection in the field.

Arapoff, Julia↗

DOE OSTI2023

Empowering Women in Biomedical Informatics: Pivoting for Success in the Post-Pandemic World

The COVID-19 pandemic and the isolation measures implemented to contain its spread have exacerbated pre-existing barriers to advancement for women in biomedical informatics. In 2020, the Women in AMIA (WIA) Networking, Mentoring, and Lifecycle Committee administered a survey to identify resources and needs to assist women in informatics. Part of this survey identified several factors impacted by the pandemic: 1) work-life boundaries disappeared and caring for family while working from home became increasingly challenging; 2) isolation, stress and safety of well-being was heightened during the pandemic impacting physical and mental health; 3) diverse working environment and modality brought unforeseen challenges in collaborations and unified communications. These challenges present an opportunity for promoting career development for women professionals in biomedical informatics. This WIA-sponsored panel brings together leaders in the field to highlight their personal experiences and strategies to support women professionals.

Dua, Prerna↗

DOE OSTI2024

1. Physical Security Engineering by Design for Nuclear Facilities; 2. Nuclear Power Plant Site Security Management – A Security Strategy; 3. The UAE Women in Nuclear Energy Security

1. Security by design, or SeBD, is a comprehensive approach that integrates the physical protection system of a nuclear plant into every stage of its existence. This includes planning, designing, constructing, commissioning, and operating the facility, using a combination of analytical, physical, technological, and procedural measures. Essentially, SeBD involves intentionally applying and incorporating security into all aspects of design and operation throughout the entire lifecycle of a facility. By implementing this methodology throughout various phases such as program development, process implementation, staff training and procedures management in conjunction with plant equipment, facilities can be optimized to minimize security risks without compromising functional design requirements. This ultimately improves the overall security posture of the site and reduces the need for costly modifications or additional security resources post-design. 2. A site security strategy is a living document that is revised on a periodic or event-driven basis, ensuring that site security operations and corresponding procedures provide long-term, effective protection for the entire nuclear power plant (NPP) site. A site security strategy aims to mitigate threats across the entire NPP site via in-depth defense approaches and mutual support; therefore, if a layer is omitted or altered, then the effect across all layers must be re-evaluated. Therefore, the aim of the site security strategy is to provide an appropriate, scalable security regime that deters, denies, delays, and detects incidents and, equally importantly, reassures legitimate users and the regulator that due diligence and regulatory compliance have been achieved, ensuring that the site is safe and secure. Robust access control for vehicles and pedestrians is at the heart of the strategy. Vehicle and pedestrian searching and screening are seen as the strongest mitigation methods against vehicle- and pedestrian-borne attacks. The security strategy must also be supported through comprehensive staff training and the development of robust processes, procedures, and planning. If all these measures are to be effective, then training must be implemented during each phase of construction, partial operation/commissioning, and full operation. No single element of site security is completely isolated from the influence of other elements. Ideally, consideration of all key elements will result in a security strategy that is integrated and proportional to the threat and that does not over specify individual security solutions through the application of isolated measures but rather applies a holistic, all-encompassing approach. 3. When women enter the labor force, numerous positive outcomes emerge, including increased GDP, educational gains, and decreased maternal mortality. Despite these benefits, women's employment rates and equality vary significantly worldwide as does support for women in the workforce. This paper will explore the multifaceted benefits of women's employment, the factors influencing labor force participation rates, and the urgency to achieve gender equality as outlined in the 2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will then examine the emerging presence of women in the traditionally male-dominated nuclear field, specifically within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a testament to their resilience and determination to break social norms and advance gender equality.

Zineddin, Dr. Z.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Body surface area equations for physically active men and women

Abstract Objectives To improve predictive formulae for estimating body surface area (BSA) in healthy men and women using a modern three‐dimensional scanner technology. Methods Body surface areas were obtained from a convenience sample of 1267 US Marines (464 women and 803 men) using a whole body surface scanner (Size Stream SS20). The reliability of SS20 measures of total and regional BSA within participants was compared across triplicate scans. We then derived a series of formulae to estimate SS20‐measured BSA using various combinations of sex, height, and mass. We also assessed relationships between percent body fat measured by dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry and sex‐specific formulae errors in Marines. Results Body surface areas recorded by the SS20 were highly reliable whether measured for the total body or by region (ICC ≥ .962). Formulae estimates of BSA from sex, height, and mass were precise (root‐mean‐square deviation, 0.031 m 2 ). Errors from the Marine Corps formulae were positively associated with percent body fat for men ( p = .001) but not women ( p = .843). Conclusions Clinicians, military leaders, and researchers can use the newly developed BSA formulae for precise estimates in healthy physically active men and women. Users should be aware that height‐ and mass‐based BSA estimates are less accurate for individuals with extremely low or high percent body fat.

Looney, David P.↗

DOE OSTI2021

A Review of Coccidioides Research, Outstanding Questions in the Field, and Contributions by Women Scientists

Abstract Purpose of Review Coccidioidomycosis is an infectious disease that gained clinical significance in the early 20th century. Many of the foundational contributions to coccidioidomycosis research, including the discovery of the fungal disease agent, Coccidioides spp., were made by women. We review recent progress in Coccidioides research and big questions remaining in the field, while highlighting some of the contributions from women. Recent Findings New molecular-based techniques provide a promising method for detecting Coccidioides, which can help determine the dominate reservoir host and ideal environmental conditions for growth. Genetic and genomic analyses have allowed an understanding of population structure, species level diversity, and evolutionary histories. We present a current, comprehensive genome list, where women contributed many of these entries. Several efforts to develop a coccidioidomycosis vaccine are underway. Summary Women continue to pioneer research on Coccidioides, including the relationships between the fungi and the environment, genetics, and clinical observations. Significant questions remain in the field of Coccidioides, including the main host reservoir, the relationships between genotypic and phenotypic variation, and the underlying cause for chronic clinical coccidioidomycosis cases.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗