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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 487 records · Page 27
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1994

Venus surface roughness and Magellan stereo data

Presented are results of some studies to develop tools useful for the analysis of Venus surface shape and its roughness. Actual work was focused on Maxwell Montes. The analyses employ data acquired by means of NASA's Magellan satellite. The work is primarily concerned with deriving measurements of the Venusian surface using Magellan stereo SAR. Roughness was considered by means of a theoretical analyses based on digital elevation models (DEM's), on single Magellan radar images combined with radiometer data, and on the use of multiple overlapping Magellan radar images from cycles 1, 2, and 3, again combined with collateral radiometer data.

Maurice, Kelly E.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Defect Clustering and Nano-phase Structure Characterization of Multicomponent Rare Earth-Oxide-Doped Zirconia-Yttria Thermal Barrier Coatings

Advanced thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) have been developed by incorporating multicomponent rare earth oxide dopants into zirconia-based thermal barrier coatings to promote the creation of the thermodynamically stable, immobile oxide defect clusters and/or nanophases within the coating systems. In this paper, the defect clusters, induced by Nd, Gd, and Yb rare earth dopants in the zirconia-yttria thermal barrier coatings, were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM lattice imaging, selected area diffraction (SAD), and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) analyses demonstrated that the extensive nanoscale rare earth dopant segregation exists in the plasma-sprayed and electron-physical-vapor-deposited (EB PVD) thermal barrier coatings. The nanoscale concentration heterogeneity and the resulting large lattice distortion promoted the formation of parallel and rotational defective lattice clusters in the coating systems. The presence of the 5-to 100-nm-sized defect clusters and nanophases is believed to be responsible for the significant reduction of thermal conductivity, improved sintering resistance, and long-term high temperature stability of the advanced thermal barrier coating systems.

Zhu, Dongming↗
NASA NTRS2004

Constraints on the Lithological Variation near the Surface of the HED Planetoid from the Petrology of 91 & 92 Series Antarctic Achondrites

The petrography of a suite of meteorite sections: PCA91006,14; PCA91078,9; PCA91083,6; PCA91159,4; PCA91179,9; PCA91245,9; EET92003,14; EET92004,12; EET92015,4; EET92022,7; EET92026,4; and EET92027,5 is used as an initial sample of the lithological variation on the surface of the HED planetoid (presumably asteroid 4 Vesta). These samples will be combined with much larger arrays of petrographic data for the many Antarctic basaltic achondrites to provide a random sample of the surface of the body. The full variety of the lithologies existing on the parent body is only accessible when the polymict achondrites are considered. The polymict samples contain lithologies that sample multiple provenances as well as those not seen as monolithologic meteorites like eucrites and diogenites. Comparison of lithological variation within individual meteorites provides a subset of variations at the site of last impact. In aggregate, the variations within the achondrites now available may be close to a random sample of the parent body. In combination of microanalytical and imaging techniques now available permit a mass balanced assessment of the distribution and abundance of lithologies to be made. These initial results provide a description of methodology to be tested. All samples were studied and photographed on a polarizing microscope to provide location information. Major mineral phases and randomly selected points (on lines and grids) were analyzed in each thin section. In addition backscattered electron and X-ray imaging of clasts and sections provide the basis for high precision modal analyses of the abundance and distribution of both lithic and mineral clasts. These data provide objective, area based comparisons with other Antarctic samples.

Bjonnes, Emily E.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Hyperspectral Biofilm Classification Analysis for Carrying Capacity of Migratory Birds in the South Bay Salt Ponds

Tidal marshes are highly productive ecosystems that support migratory birds as roosting and over-wintering habitats on the Pacific Flyway. Microphytobenthos, or more commonly 'biofilms' contribute significantly to the primary productivity of wetland ecosystems, and provide a substantial food source for macroinvertebrates and avian communities. In this study, biofilms were characterized based on taxonomic classification, density differences, and spectral signatures. These techniques were then applied to remotely sensed images to map biofilm densities and distributions in the South Bay Salt Ponds and predict the carrying capacity of these newly restored ponds for migratory birds. The GER-1500 spectroradiometer was used to obtain in situ spectral signatures for each density-class of biofilm. The spectral variation and taxonomic classification between high, medium, and low density biofilm cover types was mapped using in-situ spectral measurements and classification of EO-1 Hyperion and Landsat TM 5 images. Biofilm samples were also collected in the field to perform laboratory analyses including chlorophyll-a, taxonomic classification, and energy content. Comparison of the spectral signatures between the three density groups shows distinct variations useful for classification. Also, analysis of chlorophyll-a concentrations show statistically significant differences between each density group, using the Tukey-Kramer test at an alpha level of 0.05. The potential carrying capacity in South Bay Salt Ponds is estimated to be 250,000 birds.

Hsu, Wei-Chen↗
NASA NTRS2012

Thermostructural Analysis of the SOFIA Fine Field and Wide Field Imagers Subjected to Convective Thermal Shock

The Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is a highly modified Boeing 747-SP with a 17- ton infrared telescope installed in the aft portion of the aircraft. Unlike ground- and space-based platforms, SOFIA can deploy to make observations anytime, anywhere, in the world. The originally designed aircraft configuration included a ground pre-cool system, however, due to various factors in the history of the project, that system was not installed. This lack of ground pre-cooling was the source of the concern about whether or not the imagers would be exposed to a potentially unsafe thermostructural environment. This concern was in addition to the already-existing concern of some project members that the air temperature rate of change during flight (both at the same altitude as well as ascent or descent) could cause the imagers to be exposed to an unsafe thermostructural environment. Four optical components were identified as the components of concern: two of higher concern (one in each imager), and two of lower concern (one in each imager). The analysis effort began by analyzing one component, after which the analyses for the other components was deemed unnecessary. The purpose of this report is to document these findings as well as lessons learned from the effort.

Kostyk, Christopher B.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Dose- and Ion-Dependent Effects in the Oxidative Stress Response to Space-Like Radiation Exposure in the Skeletal System

Exposure to space radiation may pose a risk to skeletal health during subsequent aging. Irradiation acutely stimulates bone remodeling in mice, although the long-term influence of space radiation on bone-forming potential (osteoblastogenesis) and possible adaptive mechanisms are not well understood. We hypothesized exposure to ionizing radiation impairs osteoblastogenesis in an ion-type specific manner, with low doses capable of modulating expression of redox-related genes. 16-week old, male, C57BL6/J mice were exposed to low linear-energy-transfer (LET) protons (150 mega electron volts per nucleon) or high-LET (sup 56) Fe ions (600 mega electron volts per nucleon) using either low (5 or 10 centigrays) or high (50 or 200 centigrays) doses at NASAs Space Radiation Lab at Brookhaven National Lab (NSRL/BNL). Tissues were harvested 5 weeks or 1 year after irradiation and bones were analyzed by microcomputed tomography for cancellous microarchitecture and cortical geometry. Marrow-derived, adherent cells were grown under osteoblastogenic culture conditions. Cell lysates were analyzed for select groups by RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction) during the proliferative phase or the mineralizing phase, and differentiation was analyzed by imaging mineralized nodules (percentage surface area). Representative genes were selected for expression analyses, including cell proliferation (PCNA, Cdk2, p21, p53), differentiation (Runx2, Alpl, Bglap), oxidative metabolism (Catalase, GPX, MnSOD, CuZnSOD, iNos, Foxo1), DNA-damage repair (Gadd45), or apoptosis (Caspase 3). As expected, a high dose (200 centigrays), but not low doses, of either (sup 56) Fe or protons caused a loss of cancellous bone volume per total volume. Marrow cells produced mineralized nodules ex vivo regardless of radiation type or dose; (sup 56) Fe (200 centigrays) inhibited median nodule area by more than 90 percent at 5 weeks and 1 year post-irradiation, compared to controls. At 5 weeks post exposure, irradiation with protons or (sup 56) Fe caused few changes in gene expression levels during osteoblastogenesis, although a high dose of (sup 56) Fe (200 centigrays) increased levels of Catalase and Gadd45. In addition, supplementing cell culture media with SOD protected marrow-derived osteoprogenitors from the damaging effects of exposure to low-LET ((sup 137) Cs gamma) if irradiated in vitro, but had limited protective effects on high-LET (sup 56) Fe-exposed cells. In sum, exposure of mice to either protons or (sup 56) Fe at a relatively high dose (200 cGy) caused persistent bone loss, whereas only high-LET (sup 56) Fe increased expression of redox-related genes and inhibited osteoblastogenesis, albeit to a limited extent. We conclude that high-LET irradiation impaired osteoblastogenesis and regulated steady-state gene expression of select redox-related genes during osteoblastogenesis, which may contribute to persistent bone loss.

ionizing radiation↗
NASA NTRS1993

Comparison of special sensor microwave imager vector wind stress with model-derived and subjective products for the tropical Pacific

An assessment of a new source of vector wind stress data relative to existing analyses of the surface wind field is presented. The large-scale variability of vector wind stress generated by Atlas et al. (1991) and based on the special sensor microwave imager (SSM/I) remotely sensed observations of surface wind speed is compared with five operational and subjectively analyzed wind products across the tropical Pacific basin for the first year of SSM/I, July 1987 through June 1988. The spatial and temporal variability of the zonal component, meridional component, and curl of the wind stress are examined relative to their future use in wind-driven ocean model studies of tropical Pacific Ocean circulation.

Busalacchi, Antonio J.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Mars Cameras Make Panoramic Photography a Snap

If you wish to explore a Martian landscape without leaving your armchair, a few simple clicks around the NASA Web site will lead you to panoramic photographs taken from the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. Many of the technologies that enable this spectacular Mars photography have also inspired advancements in photography here on Earth, including the panoramic camera (Pancam) and its housing assembly, designed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Cornell University for the Mars missions. Mounted atop each rover, the Pancam mast assembly (PMA) can tilt a full 180 degrees and swivel 360 degrees, allowing for a complete, highly detailed view of the Martian landscape. The rover Pancams take small, 1 megapixel (1 million pixel) digital photographs, which are stitched together into large panoramas that sometimes measure 4 by 24 megapixels. The Pancam software performs some image correction and stitching after the photographs are transmitted back to Earth. Different lens filters and a spectrometer also assist scientists in their analyses of infrared radiation from the objects in the photographs. These photographs from Mars spurred developers to begin thinking in terms of larger and higher quality images: super-sized digital pictures, or gigapixels, which are images composed of 1 billion or more pixels. Gigapixel images are more than 200 times the size captured by today s standard 4 megapixel digital camera. Although originally created for the Mars missions, the detail provided by these large photographs allows for many purposes, not all of which are limited to extraterrestrial photography.

Source record↗
DOE OSTI2024

Cell Population–resolved Multiomics Atlas of the Developing Lung

The lung is a vital organ that undergoes extensive morphological and functional changes during postnatal development. To disambiguate how different cell populations contribute to organ development, we performed proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of four sorted cell populations from the lung of human subjects aged 0 to 8 years-old with a focus on early life. The cell populations analyzed included epithelial, endothelial, mesenchymal, and immune cells. Our results revealed distinct molecular signatures for each of the sorted cell populations that enable the description of molecular shifts occurring in these populations during post-natal development. Here, we confirmed that the proteome of the different cell populations was distinct regardless of age and identified functions specific to each population. We identified a series of cell population protein markers, including those located at the cell surface, that show differential expression and distribution on RNA in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence imaging. We validated the spatial distribution of AT1 and endothelial cell surface markers. Temporal analyses of the proteome of each of the four populations revealed processes modulated during postnatal development and disambiguating results obtained on whole tissue proteome. Finally, the proteome was compared to a transcriptomics survey performed on the same lung samples to evaluate processes under post-transcriptional control.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1992

Lunar Resources Using Moderate Spectral Resolution Visible and Near-infrared Spectroscopy: Al/si and Soil Maturity

Modern visible and near-infrared detectors are critically important for the accurate identification and relative abundance measurement of lunar minerals; however, even a very small number of well-placed visible and near-infrared bandpass channels provide a significant amount of general information about crucial lunar resources. The Galileo Solid State Imaging system (SSI) multispectral data are an important example of this. Al/Si and soil maturity will be discussed as examples of significant general lunar resource information that can be gleaned from moderate spectral resolution visible and near-infrared data with relative ease. Because quantitative-albedo data are necessary for these kinds of analyses, data such as those obtained by Galileo SSI are critical. SSI obtained synoptic digital multispectral image data for both the nearside and farside of the Moon during the first Galileo Earth-Moon encounter in December 1990. The data consist of images through seven filters with bandpasses ranging from 0.40 microns in the ultraviolet to 0.99 microns in the near-infrared. Although these data are of moderate spectral resolution, they still provide information for the following lunar resources: (1) titanium content of mature mare soils based upon the 0.40/0.56-micron (UV/VIS) ratio; (2) mafic mineral abundance based upon the 0.76/0.99-micron ratio; and (3) the maturity or exposure age of the soils based upon the 0.56-0.76-micron continuum and the 0.76/0.99-micron ratio. Within constraints, these moderate spectral resolution visible and near-infrared reflectance data can also provide elemental information such as Al/Si for mature highland soils.

Fischer, Erich M.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Evaluation of lunar rocks and soils for resource utilization: Detailed image analysis of raw materials and beneficiated products

The rocks and soils of the Moon will be the raw materials for fuels and construction needs at a lunar base. This includes sources of materials for the generation of hydrogen, oxygen, metals, and other potential construction materials. For most of the bulk material needs, the regolith, and its less than 1 cm fraction, the soil, will suffice. But for specific mineral resources, it may be necessary to concentrate minerals from rocks or soils, and it is not always obvious which is the more appropriate feedstock. Besides an appreciation of site geology, the mineralogy and petrography of local rocks and soils is important for consideration of the resources which can provide feedstocks of ilmenite, glass, agglutinates, anorthite, etc. In such studies, it is very time-consuming and practically impossible to correlate particle counts (the traditional method of characterizing lunar soil petrography) with accurate modal analyses and with mineral associations in multi-mineralic grains. But x ray digital imaging, using x rays characteristic of each element, makes all this possible and much more (e.g., size and shape analysis). An application of beneficiation image analysis, in use in our lab (Oxford Instr. EDS and Cameca SX-50 EMP), was demonstrated to study mineral liberation from lunar rocks and soils. Results of x ray image analysis are presented.

Taylor, Lawrence A.↗
NASA NTRS2001

In-Flight Edge Response Measurements for High Spatial Resolution Remote Sensing Systems

In-flight measurement of spatial resolution were conducted as part of the ASA Scientific Data Purchase (SDP) Validation and Verification (V&V) process. Characterization included remote sensing systems with ground sample distance (GSD) of 1 meter or less, such as the panchromatic imager on-board the ICONOS satellite and the airborne ADAR System 5500 multispectral instrument. Final image products were used to evaluate the effect of both the image acquisition system (e.g., optics, electronics, motion, jitter, atmosphere) and image post-processing (e.g., resampling, modulation trasfer function (MTF) compensator). Spatial resolution was characterized by full width at half maximum (FWHM) of an edge response-derived line spread function. This was found to be a more robust measure of spatial resolution than the value of NTF at Nyquist frequency The edge responses were analysed using the tilted-edge technique that ovecomes the spatial sampling limitations of the digital imaging systems. As an enhancement to existing algorithms, the slope of the edge response and the orientation of the edge target were determined by a single computational process. Adjacent black and white square panels, either painted on a flat surface or deployed as traps, formed the ground-based edge targets used in the tests. Orientation of the deployable tarps was optimized beforehand, based on simulations of the imaging system. Numerous edge target images were analyzed for each of the tested sensors. The effect of such factors as acquisition geometry, temporal variability, MTF compensation, and GSD on spatial resolution were investigated.

Blonski, Slawomir↗
DOE OSTI2022

Dynamic Measurements of the Structural Evolution of Material Defects at the Mesoscale

This is a technical report to be published as part of the FY2021 annual overview package. We have designed experiments and developed analytical methods using images from x-ray and electron microscopy in order to quantify the behavior of crystal dislocation defects at their native nanometer-length and micro-length scales. The results of these analyses are used to directly inform theoretical physics models and guide interpretation of dark field x-ray microscopy (DFXM) images that offer spatial resolution surpassing the resolution of beamline optics. Additionally, we developed new analytical methods to automate the alignment of optics hardware used in both synchrotron and x-ray free electron laser beamline facilities. The tools and workflows developed for this project are now being deployed as proof-of-concept in reaction history analysis (RHA) for future programmatic integration.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1985

Study of spectral/radiometric characteristics of the Thematic Mapper for land use applications: Objectives, accomplishments, conclusions, and recommendations

The objectives of this investigation are to quantify the performance of the Thematic Mapper, as manifested by the quality of its image data, in order to suggest improvements in data production and to assess the effects of the data quality on its utility for land resources applications. Analyses of radiometric, spatial, spectral, and geometric effects, with primary emphasis on radiometric effects are included. This effort is part of the LANDSAT 4/5 Image Data Quality Analysis (LIDQA) program sponsored by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Malila, W. A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Visualizing the Internal Nanocrystallinity of Calcite Due to Nonclassical Crystallization by 3D Coherent X–Ray Diffraction Imaging

The internal crystallinity of calcite is investigated for samples synthesized using two approaches: precipitation from solution and the ammonium carbonate diffusion method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses reveal that the calcite products precipitated using both approaches have a well–defined rhombohedron shape, consistent with the euhedral crystal habit of the mineral. The internal structure of these calcite crystals is characterized using Bragg coherent diffraction imaging (BCDI) to determine the 3D electron density and the atomic displacement field. BCDI reconstructions for crystals synthesized using the ammonium carbonate diffusion approach have the expected euhedral shape, with internal strain fields and few internal defects. In contrast, the crystals synthesized by precipitation from solution have very complex external shapes and defective internal structures, presenting null electron density regions and pronounced displacement field distributions. These heterogeneities are interpreted as multiple crystalline domains, created by a nonclassical crystallization mechanism, where smaller nanoparticles coalescence into the final euhedral particles. The combined use of SEM, X–ray diffraction (XRD), and BCDI allows for structurally differentiating calcite crystals grown with different approaches, opening new opportunities to understand how grain boundaries and internal defects alter calcite reactivity.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2023

The Nature of Insoluble Organic Matter in Sutter’s Mill and Murchison Carbonaceous Chondrites: Testing the Effect of X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) and Exploring Parent Body Organic Molecular Evolution

This study analyzed samples of the Murchison and Sutter’s Mill carbonaceous chondrite meteorites in support of the future analysis of samples returned from the asteroid (10155) Bennu by the OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer) mission. Focusing specifically on the insoluble organic matter (IOM), this study establishes that a total of 1.3 g of bulk sample from a single chondritic meteorite is sufficient to obtain a wide range of cosmochemical information, including light element analysis (H, C, and N), isotopic analysis (D/H, 13 C/ 12 C, and 15 N/ 14 N), and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy for major elemental abundances. IOM isolated from the bulk meteorite samples was analyzed by light element and isotopic analysis as described above, 1 H and 13 C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and complete noble gas analyses (abundances and isotopes). The samples studied included a pair from Murchison (CM2), one of which had been irradiated with high-energy X-rays in the course of computed tomographic imaging. No differences between the irradiated and non-irradiated Murchison samples were observed in the many different chemical and spectroscopic analyses, indicating that any X-ray–derived sample damage is below levels of detection. Elemental, isotopic, and molecular spectroscopic data derived from IOM isolated from the Sutter’s Mill sample reveals evidence that this meteorite falls into the class of heated CM chondrites.

planetary science↗
DOE OSTI2024

Regulation of β-cell death by ADP-ribosylhydrolase ARH3 via lipid signaling in insulitis

Lipids are regulators of insulitis and β-cell death in type 1 diabetes development, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we investigated how the islet lipid composition and downstream signaling regulate β-cell death. We performed lipidomics using three models of insulitis: human islets and EndoC-βH1 β cells treated with the pro-inflammatory cytokines interlukine-1β and interferon-γ, and islets from pre-diabetic non-obese mice. We also performed mass spectrometry and fluorescence imaging to determine the localization of lipids and enzyme in islets. RNAi, apoptotic assay, and qPCR were performed to determine the role of a specific factor in lipid-mediated cytokine signaling. Across all three models, lipidomic analyses showed a consistent increase of lysophosphatidylcholine species and phosphatidylcholines with polyunsaturated fatty acids and a reduction of triacylglycerol species. Imaging assays showed that phosphatidylcholines with polyunsaturated fatty acids and their hydrolyzing enzyme phospholipase PLA2G6 are enriched in islets. In downstream signaling, omega-3 fatty acids reduce cytokine-induced β-cell death by improving the expression of ADP-ribosylhydrolase ARH3. The mechanism involves omega-3 fatty acid-mediated reduction of the histone methylation polycomb complex PRC2 component Suz12, upregulating the expression of Arh3, which in turn decreases cell apoptosis. Our data provide insights into the change of lipidomics landscape in β cells during insulitis and identify a protective mechanism by omega-3 fatty acids.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2022

D 3 -creatine dilution for skeletal muscle mass measurement: historical development and current status

The French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul discovered creatine in meat two centuries ago. Extensive biochemical and physiological studies of this organic molecule followed with confirmation that creatine is found within the cytoplasm and mitochondria of human skeletal muscles. Two groups of investigators exploited these relationships five decades ago by first estimating the creatine pool size in vivo with 14 C and 15 N labelled isotopes. Skeletal muscle mass (kg) was then calculated by dividing the creatine pool size (g) by muscle creatine concentration (g/kg) measured on a single muscle biopsy or estimated from the literature. This approach for quantifying skeletal muscle mass is generating renewed interest with the recent introduction of a practical stable isotope (creatine-(methyl-d 3 )) dilution method for estimating the creatine pool size across the full human lifespan. The need for a muscle biopsy has been eliminated by assuming a constant value for whole-body skeletal muscle creatine concentration of 4.3 g/kg wet weight. The current single compartment model of estimating creatine pool size and skeletal muscle mass rests on four main assumptions: tracer absorption is complete; tracer is all retained; tracer is distributed solely in skeletal muscle; and skeletal muscle creatine concentration is known and constant. Three of these assumptions are false to varying degrees. Not all tracer is retained with urinary isotope losses ranging from 0% to 9%; an empirical equation requiring further validation is used to correct for spillage. Not all tracer is distributed in skeletal muscle with non-muscle creatine sources ranging from 2% to 10% with a definitive value lacking. Lastly, skeletal muscle creatine concentration is not constant and varies between muscles (e.g. 3.89–4.62 g/kg), with diets (e.g. vegetarian and omnivore), across age groups (e.g. middle-age, ~4.5 g/kg; old-age, 4.0 g/kg), activity levels (e.g. athletes, ~5 g/kg) and in disease states (e.g. muscular dystrophies, <3 g/kg). Some of the variability in skeletal muscle creatine concentrations can be attributed to heterogeneity in the proportions of wet skeletal muscle as myofibres, connective tissues, and fat. These observations raise serious concerns regarding the accuracy of the deuterated-creatine dilution method for estimating total body skeletal muscle mass as now defined by cadaver analyses of whole wet tissues and in vivo approaches such as magnetic resonance imaging. A new framework is needed in thinking about how this potentially valuable method for measuring the creatine pool size in vivo can be used in the future to study skeletal muscle biology in health and disease.

body composition↗