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Genome-wide study investigating effector genes and polygenic prediction for kidney function in persons with ancestry from Africa and the Americas
Get PDFChronic kidney disease is a leading cause of death and disability globally and impacts individuals of African ancestry (AFR) or with ancestry in the Americas (AMS) who are under-represented in genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of kidney function. To address this bias, we conducted a large meta-analysis of GWASs of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in 145,732 AFR and AMS individuals. We identified 41 loci at genome-wide significance (p < 5 × 1
Electronic health records and e-prescribing in Australia : an exploration of technological utilisation in Australian community pharmacies
Get PDFObjective: This study aimed to assess the utilisation, benefits, and challenges associated with Electronic Health Records (EHR) and e-prescribing systems in Australian Community Pharmacies, focusing on their integration into daily practice and the impacts on operational efficiency, while also gathering qualitative insights from community pharmacists. Methods: A mixed-methods online survey was carried out among community pharmacists throughout Australia to assess the utilisation of EHR and e-prescribing systems, including the benefits and challenges associated with their use. Data was analysed based on pharmacists' age, gender, and practice location (metropolitan vs. regional). The chi-square test was applied to examine the relationship between these demographic factors and the utilisation and operational challenges of EHR and e-prescribing systems. Results: The survey engaged 120 Australian community pharmacists. Of the participants, 67 % reported usability and efficiency issues with EHR systems. Regarding e-prescribing, 58 % of pharmacists faced delays due to slow software performance, while 42 % encountered errors in data transmission. Despite these challenges, the benefits of e-prescribing were evident, with 79 % of respondents noting the elimination of illegible prescriptions and 40 % observing a reduction in their workload. Issues with prescription quantity discrepancies and the reprinting process were highlighted, indicating areas for improvement in workflow and system usability. The analysis revealed no significant statistical relationship between the utilisation and challenges of EHR and e-prescribing systems with the demographic variables of age, gender and location (p > 0.05), emphasising the necessity for healthcare solutions that address the needs of all pharmacists regardless of specific demographic segments. Conclusion: In Australian community pharmacies, EHR and e-prescribing may enhance patient care but come with challenges such as data completeness, technical issues, and usability concerns. Implementing successful integration relies on user-centric design, standardised practices, and robust infrastructure. While demanding for pharmacists, the digital transition improves efficiency and quality of care. Ensuring user-friendly tools is crucial for the smooth utilisation of digital health. © 2024 The Author
Influences of past moral behavior on future behavior : a review of sequential moral behavior studies using meta-analytic techniques
Get PDFExperimental research on sequential moral behavior (SMB) has found that engaging in an initial moral (or immoral) behavior can sometimes lead to moral balancing (i.e., switching between positive and negative behavior) and sometimes to moral consistency (i.e., maintaining a consistent pattern of positive or negative behavior). In two meta-analyses, we present the first comprehensive syntheses of SMB studies and test moderators to identify the conditions under which moral balancing and moral consistency are most likely to occur. Meta-Analysis 1 (k = 217 effect sizes, N = 31,242) revealed that engaging in an initial positive behavior only reliably resulted in moral licensing (i.e., balancing) in studies that measured engagement in negative target behaviors (Hedges' g = 0.25, 95% CI [0.16, 0.44]) and only resulted in positive consistency in foot-in-the-door studies using prosocial requests (Hedges' g = -0.44, 95% CI [-0.59, -0.29]). Meta-Analysis 2 (k = 132 effect sizes, N = 14,443) revealed that engaging in an initial negative behavior only reliably resulted in moral compensation (i.e., balancing) in studies that measured engagement in positive target behaviors (Hedges' g = 0.27, 95% CI [0.18, 0.37]). We found no evidence for reliable negative consistency effects in any conditions. These results cannot be readily explained by current theories of SMB effects, and so further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms that drive moral balancing and consistency under the conditions observed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
The Influence of flock variation, sample size, flock size and mean egg count on the accuracy and precision of the estimated mean egg count
Get PDFThe control of parasitic nematode infection in sheep and other animals is threatened by the evolution of drug resistance in parasite populations. One recommendation to delay the onset of drug resistance is to estimate the flock mean faecal egg counts by sampling a subpopulation and to treat sheep only when egg counts are high. However, there is little research on the accuracy and precision of estimates of the flock mean obtained from samples. In silico sampling was used to quantify the influence of flock variation, sample size, flock size and mean egg count on the accuracy and precision of the estimated mean egg count. Commonly used and recommended sampling schemes gave alarmingly imprecise estimates of the true flock means. Simply providing a point estimate of the flock egg count can be seriously misleading. Therefore, quantiles were provided for the proportion of estimates in a plausible scenario that is likely to require treatment. It may be more informative to use these quantiles to predict the probability that the true flock mean is sufficiently high to consider treatment. © 2024 by the authors
Portfolio diversification possibilities of cryptocurrency : global evidence
Get PDFThis article explores the cointegration, co-movement, and causality relationships amongst the equity, debt, and cryptocurrency markets to determine the risk diversification possibilities of an investment portfolio. We employ daily data extracted from the Bloomberg data terminal from 2 August 2017 to 2 June 2022 to investigate the short- and long-run relationships between these markets. Indices from the U.S.A., Europe, China, Australia, and Japan are selected as the proxies for the analysis. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, followed by unit root testing in the presence of structural breaks, indicates no long-run relationship among six financial variables and the cryptocurrency market. Although the Toda Yamamoto causality test does reveal unidirectional causality running from European and Chinese markets to the cryptocurrency market, we find no evidence to prove the existence of any bidirectional causality between markets. Furthermore, we use the R-squared metrics to analyse the market behaviour and co-movement between the cryptocurrency market and other financial markets. The test findings exhibit a lower level of co-movement behaviour. Our overall results suggest potential portfolio diversification possibilities between cryptocurrency and financial markets based on Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
Free space identification for agoraphilic algorithm in uneven terrain environment
No full textNavigating robots through challenging terrains requires innovative path-planning strategies. This research presents a pioneering approach to identify free spaces in uneven terrains. It is specifically designed for integration into the Agoraphilic algorithm. Addressing the limitations of conventional 2D plane methods, the methodology incorporates terrain properties and robot-specific parameters. Our study involves the conversion of 3D terrain data into a robot-centric square grid map, facilitating the identification of terrain properties along the robot's traversability path. Additionally, we introduce a novel free space index module to index free spaces and generate a histogram of free space distribution. Experimental results showcase the methodology's versatility across diverse scenarios, making it applicable in the Agoraphilic algorithm for terrain navigation. © 2024 IEEE
Identifying challenges and solutions for improving access to mental health services for rural youth : insights from adult community members
Get PDFIn the rural United States, provider shortages, inadequate insurance coverage, high poverty rates, limited transportation, privacy concerns, and stigma make accessing mental healthcare difficult. Innovative, localized strategies are needed to overcome these barriers, but little is known about what strategies may be feasible in, or acceptable to, rural communities. We aimed to identify barriers youth face in accessing mental healthcare in rural Washington State and to generate ideas to improve access. Methods: Semi-structured, key informant interviews were conducted by telephone with adult community members, including parents, teachers, and healthcare providers. Participants answered questions related to barriers to mental healthcare access that confront youth and approaches to improving access. Detailed, de-identified field notes were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: Limited resources and stigma were the two primary barriers to accessing mental healthcare that youth encounter in the community. Limited resources included lack of services and transportation, inconsistent funding and mental health programming, and workforce shortages. Stigma associated with seeking mental healthcare was of particular concern for youth with diverse identities who experience additional stigma. Conclusions: Improving access to mental healthcare for rural youth will require building a strong mental health workforce and championing efforts to reduce stigma associated with help-seeking. © 2024 by the authors
Enhanced multi-task learning models for pile drivability prediction : leveraging metaheuristic algorithms and statistical evaluation
No full textAs a crucial component in construction, piles find extensive use in transportation infrastructure. Drivability, a term commonly employed to gauge the ease of pile installation, encompasses various factors. To evaluate the drivability, various indexes, such as MCS (maximum compressive stresses), MTS (maximum tensile stresses) and BPF (blow per foot) are proposed. Despite the need for multiple indexes to evaluate pile drivability, these metrics often share underlying commonalities, as they collectively describe features of the hammer-pile-soil system comprehensively. Thus, leveraging multi-task learning techniques becomes advantageous for tackling the drivability prediction problem. This paper proposes two enhanced multi-task learning models improved from MLS-SVR (Multi-output least-squares support vector regression machines) and hybridized with metaheuristic algorithms. Based on 4072 pile installing samples, the models undergo development and hyperparameter optimization employing SA (Simulated Annealing) and YYPO (Yin-Yang-pair Optimization). Six statistical indexes are employed evaluate the accuracy of the models. The test results reveal the superiority of YYPO-MLS-SVR over SA-MLS-SVR. Furthermore, comparative analysis against single-task models from previous studies demonstrates the robust performance of hybridized MLS-SVR models, even when addressing multiple problems concurrently. This paper presents a novel approach for the multi-index evaluation of pile drivability. © 2024 Elsevier Lt
The prognostic value of preoperative inflammatory markers for pathological grading of glioma patients
Get PDFIntroduction: The independent diagnostic value of inflammatory markers neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and the diagnostic efficacy of NLR, derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (dNLR), PLR, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in glioma cases remain unclear. We investigated the correlation of preoperative peripheral blood inflammatory markers with pathological grade, Ki-67 Proliferation Index, and IDH-1 gene phenotype in patients with glioma, focusing on tumor grade and prognosis. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical, pathological, and laboratory data of 334 patients with glioma with varying grades and 345 with World Health Organization (WHO I) meningioma who underwent initial surgery at the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University from December 2019 to December 2021. The diagnostic value of peripheral blood inflammatory markers for glioma was investigated. Results: The proportion of men smoking and drinking was significantly higher in the glioma group than in the meningioma group (P <.05); in contrast, the age and body mass index (Kg/m2) were significantly lower in the glioma group (P =.01). Significant differences were noted in the pathological grade (WHO II, III, and IV), Ki-67 Proliferation Index, and peripheral blood inflammatory markers such as lymphocyte median, NLR, dNLR, and PLR between the groups (P <.05). No significant correlation existed between peripheral blood inflammatory factors and IDH-1 gene mutation status or tumor location in patients with glioma (P >.05). LMR, NLR, dNLR, and PLR, varied significantly among different glioma types (P <.05). White blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil, NLR, and dNLR correlated positively with glioma risk. Further, WBC, neutrophil, NLR, dNLR, and LMR had a high diagnostic efficiency. Conclusion: Peripheral blood inflammatory markers, serving as noninvasive biomarkers, offer high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing glioma, differentiating it from meningioma, diagnosing GBM, and distinguishing GBM from low-grade glioma. These markers may be implemented as routine screening tools. © The Author(s) 2024
A wide output voltage range and high efficiency dual-channel WPT system employing multimode control strategy
No full textFlexible output regulation and high efficiency are key requirements for wireless power transfer systems. However, it is a challenge to maintain high efficiency in wide output voltage range applications due to the limited regulation range of converters. To address this issue, in this article, two power transmission channels based on the LCC-LCC compensation network are used to improve system efficiency within a wide operation range. Multiple operation modes of two power channels are utilized to obtain multiple operation ranges with different optimal output voltages. Then, a multimode control strategy for two power channels is proposed to achieve optimal efficiency with different output voltage ranges. By properly switching the operation mode of these power channels, the system can always operate in an optimal range, thus the overall efficiency can achieve a high level even in not only heavy load, but also light load conditions. An experimental prototype with 100 to 420 V output voltage is constructed. Experimental results show that the proposed method can achieve an overall efficiency of 93.8% to 96.5%. © 2024 IEEE