We study the effect of the architecture and topology of polymer-grafted nanoparticle species on their structure, phase behavior, and scaling behavior. Using integral equation theory, we study three different architectures of chemically isotropic polymer-grafted nanoparticle species: singly-grafted nanoparticles, doubly-grafted nanoparticles, and ring-grafted nanoparticles. We compare the phase behavior of these three architectures with that of polymer-linked nanoparticles [Tripathy, M. Soft Matter 2017, 13, 2475–2482]. These polymer-grafted nanoparticle species undergo an entropy-driven transition from a disordered fluid phase to microphase-separated structures with alternating polymer-rich and nanoparticle-rich domains. Species with larger nanoparticles and longer polymer chains show higher tendency toward microphase separation. However, as the chain lengths decrease, the microphase transition boundaries of grafted nanoparticles with varying nanoparticle diameters converge to a unique point on the phase diagram. This behavior is noted for all four architectures under consideration. All the sparsely-grafted species with different architectures and topologies exhibit qualitatively similar spinodal phase behavior. However, the scaling behavior of the length scale of self-assembly depends on the topology of the polymer-grafted nanoparticles. While the scaling exponent is same for the three linear topologies under consideration (singly-grafted nanoparticles, doubly-grafted nanoparticles, and polymer-linked nanoparticles), it is markedly different for the ring topology.

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Introduction Trust of women and families toward health institutions has led to increased use of their services for childbirth. Whilst unpleasant experience of care during childbirth will halt this achievement and have adverse consequences. We examined the experience of women regarding the care received during childbirth in health institutions in Nepal. Method A prospective cohort study conducted in 11 hospitals in Nepal for a period of 18 months. Using a semi-structured questionnaire based on the typology of mistreatment during childbirth, information on childbirth experience was gathered from women (n = 62,926) at the time of discharge. Using those variables, principal component analysis was conducted to create a single mistreatment index. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to assess the association of the mistreatment index with sociodemographic, obstetric and newborn characteristics. Result A total of 62,926 women were consented and enrolled in the study. Of those women, 84.3% had no opportunity to discuss any concerns, 80.4% were not adequately informed before providing care, and 1.5% of them were refused for care due to inability to pay. According to multivariate regression analysis, women 35 years or older (β, − 0.3587; p-value, 0.000) or 30–34 years old (β,− 0.38013; p-value, 0.000) were less likely to be mistreated compared to women aged 18 years or younger. Women from a relatively disadvantaged (Dalit) ethnic group were more likely to be mistreated (β, 0.29596; p-value, 0.000) compared to a relatively advantaged (Chettri) ethnic group. Newborns who were born preterm (β, − 0.05988; p-value, 0.000) were less likely to be mistreated than those born at term. Conclusion The study reports high rate of some categories of mistreatment of women during childbirth. Women from disadvantaged ethnic group, young women, and term newborns are at higher risk of mistreatment. Strengthening health system and improving health workers’ readiness and response will be key in experience respectful care during childbirth.

Self-powered active micro/nanomotors have gained significant research attention in the scientific community due to their unique dynamics and emergent behaviors in response to various external stimuli. In recent years, different prototypes of micro/nanomotors have been investigated extensively for various fundamental studies and useful applications. Enzyme powered motors have emerged as ideal platforms for realizing various biological applications due to their multifunctionality and specificity in operation under complex conditions. However, most enzyme powered motors developed so far suffer from issues pertaining to their integration with biological systems due to retention of their synthetic components. With an aim to design a micromotor completely devoid of non-biological components, the present study reports the fabrication of a catalase driven, bovine serum albumin shelled microbubble motor. In substrate-rich environments, these ‘active’ microbubbles have been found to undergo substrate concentration dependent enhanced diffusion, just like their single enzyme counterparts. Brownian dynamics simulations have also been carried out to estimate the average force generated per catalytic turnover over the motor surface. Interestingly, it was found that these active microbubbles also possess the ability to transfer energy to their surroundings. The experiments were carried out within a three-dimensional setup that offered an advantage over the commonly used quasi two-dimensional systems, as it could enable researchers to probe micro/nanomotor dynamics and associated energy transfer profiles in more in vivo like settings.