Contact Information Research Articles

ONLINE PAYROLL SYSTEM

Abstract- The HR and Payroll Management System is a web-based application developed by Nadient Technology Pvt Ltd. This system aims to automate the process of generating and distributing monthly pay slips for employees, as well as managing employee information efficiently. It is designed to replace manual salary slip issuance and HR management systems. The specific functionalities of an HRPMS can vary depending on the software provider. However, some common features include: Employee Database: A centralized repository for storing all employee data, including contact information, demographics, job details, salary information, and benefits enrollment. Payroll Processing: Automates payroll calculations, deductions, and taxes. Pay slip Generation: Generates and distributes pay slips electronically or in paper format. Time and Attendance Tracking: Tracks employee hours worked, overtime, and leave. Benefits Administration: Manages employee benefits enrollment and deductions. Performance Management: Tools for setting goals, tracking performance, and conducting performance reviews. Reporting and Analytics: Provides reports and analytics on HR and payroll data.

Recruitment strategies in a lung cancer screening program for Asian women with no smoking history.

e22514 Background: The Female Asian Nonsmoker Screening Study (FANSS) is a pilot study for eligible Asian women with no smoking history to provide low-dose CT (LDCT) Chest scans for lung cancer screening annually for 3 years. To recruit for the study, we took into consideration several factors including potential language barriers, low awareness of lung cancer incidence in non-smoking populations, and participant (pt) availability. Here we describe the use of various recruitment strategies to support enrollment to the FANSS study. Methods: Multimodal recruitment strategies for enrollment into FANSS were used. A dedicated phone line answered by receptionists able to speak English and several Chinese dialects was created. Research staff are bilingual or utilized telephonic interpretation services in all pt interactions. Informational flyers available in both English and Chinese were mailed to primary care physicians serving primarily Asian communities and posted in pharmacies and storefronts in NYC Chinatown. A website was developed for interested individuals to submit their contact information for further information. Working with our institutional Epic EMR, a list of all pts with active MyChart accounts was created with criteria “Asian,” “female,” “OK to contact for Research recruitment,” “age 40-74,” and excluded anyone with a smoking history and “Cancer” in the past 5 years. From this list, pts then were sent an IRB-approved recruitment message through MyChart from 3/2023-6/2023. Interested pts who reached out through the above methods were contacted by research staff to determine eligibility. All eligible pts who agreed to participate were consented either in-person or virtually to allow for schedule flexibility to review the consent. Results: From 3/5/21 to 1/27/24, 1518 women inquired about FANSS through our website, dedicated phone line or MyChart messages and were directly contacted by our team. After determination of eligibility, 760 pts had an informed consent discussion either virtually or in-person. From 3/5/21 to 3/2023, 247 pts underwent the consent process and 229 pts had a baseline LDCT. Following the intervention of directed MyChart messaging in 3/2023, 568 pts responded to the MyChart message indicating interest, however 102 pts were not eligible due to inaccurate info in their Epic medical record (i.e. ethnicity or smoking history). Overall, from 3/2023 to 1/27/24, 513 pts underwent the consent process. Among these, 90 subjects (18%) were recruited via MyChart. Conclusions: Recruitment to a lung cancer screening program in non-smokers is feasible, and specific considerations tailored to engage minority populations can improve enrollment such as bilingual staff and translated materials. The use of directed messaging through the Epic EMR is an important tool to identify potential pts which may be applied to aid in recruitment to other clinical trials or lung cancer screening programs.

Multiscale Bayesian simulations reveal functional chromatin condensation of gene loci.

Chromatin, the complex assembly of DNA and associated proteins, plays a pivotal role in orchestrating various genomic functions. To aid our understanding of the principles underlying chromatin organization, we introduce Hi-C metainference, a Bayesian approach that integrates Hi-C contact frequencies into multiscale prior models of chromatin. This approach combines both bottom-up (the physics-based prior) and top-down (the data-driven posterior) strategies to characterize the 3D organization of a target genomic locus. We first demonstrate the capability of this method to accurately reconstruct the structural ensemble and the dynamics of a system from contact information. We then apply the approach to investigate the Sox2, Pou5f1, and Nanog loci of mouse embryonic stem cells using a bottom-up chromatin model at 1 kb resolution. We observe that the studied loci are conformationally heterogeneous and organized as crumpled globules, favoring contacts between distant enhancers and promoters. Using nucleosome-resolution simulations, we then reveal how the Nanog gene is functionally organized across the multiple scales of chromatin. At the local level, we identify diverse tetranucleosome folding motifs with a characteristic distribution along the genome, predominantly open at cis-regulatory elements and compact in between. At the larger scale, we find that enhancer-promoter contacts are driven by the transient condensation of chromatin into compact domains stabilized by extensive internucleosome interactions. Overall, this work highlights the condensed, but dynamic nature of chromatin in vivo, contributing to a deeper understanding of gene structure-function relationships.

Charting a Path to the Quintuple Aim: Harnessing AI to Address Social Determinants of Health.

The Quintuple Aim seeks to improve healthcare by addressing social determinants of health (SDOHs), which are responsible for 70-80% of medical outcomes. SDOH-related concerns have traditionally been addressed through referrals to social workers and community-based organizations (CBOs), but these pathways have had limited success in connecting patients with resources. Given that health inequity is expected to cost the United States nearly USD 300 billion by 2050, new artificial intelligence (AI) technology may aid providers in addressing SDOH. In this commentary, we present our experience with using ChatGPT to obtain SDOH management recommendations for archetypal patients in Philadelphia, PA. ChatGPT identified relevant SDOH resources and provided contact information for local organizations. Future exploration could improve AI prompts and integrate AI into electronic medical records to provide healthcare providers with real-time SDOH recommendations during appointments.

Website Utilization as Labuan Bajo Super Digital Marketing

Digital marketing by utilizing websites can have a significant impact, such as improving their brand image, reaching a wider audience, and expanding the target market. The purpose of this study is to identify the website as Labuan Bajo Super's digital marketing tool. This type of research is qualitative, with qualitative descriptive analysis methods. Data collection was carried out by observing the Labuan Bajo Super website and taking the necessary data in this study. The result of the study is Labuan Bajo Super making good use of the website as their marketing medium. Labuan Bajo Super provides complete information, such as displaying information on tour packages offered, Labuan Bajo Super contact information, and more.

Inaccuracies in provider directories persist for long periods of time.

A growing literature has identified substantial inaccuracies in consumer-facing provider directories, but it is unclear how long these inaccuracies persist. We re-surveyed inaccurately listed Pennsylvania providers (n = 5170) between 117 to 280 days after a previous secret-shopper survey. Overall, 19.0% (n = 983) of provider directory listings that had been identified as inaccurate were subsequently removed, 44.8% (n = 2316) of provider listings continued to show at least 1 inaccuracy, and 11.6% (n = 600) were accurate at follow-up. We were unable to reach 24.6% (n = 1271) of providers. Longer passage of time was associated with reductions in directory inaccuracies, particularly related to contact information, and to a lesser degree, with removal of inaccurate listings. We found substantial differences in corrective action by carrier. Together, these findings suggest persistent barriers to maintaining and updating provider directories, with implications for how well these tools can help consumers select health plans and access care.

Health risk factors, status and service utilisation of adults in primary health care settings in Qatar: The HEALTHSIGHT study protocol.

The emergence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been well documented in recent literature which constitute a significant global burden of disease. Qatar which has a significantly high prevalence of NCDs with early on set. Epidemiological and health service utilization information plays a central role in facilitating informed decision making and application of the fundamental principles of PHC in planning and delivery of healthcare with aim to prevent and control NCDs. To enable this, the Department of Clinical Research at Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Qatar's publicly funded and largest primary care provider designed the Health Assessment Linking Trends in Health Status, Risks, and Healthcare Utilization (HEALTHSIGHT) study. This paper describes the HEALTHSIGHT study protocol. The proposed study will use a cross sectional study design involving a random sample of participants enrolled across all 31 PHCC health centers. Individuals aged 18 and above years old registered with PHCC and hold a valid health card and contact information on PHCC's electronic medical records (EMR) will be eligible for inclusion. A stratified random sample not proportional to size sampling technique will be employed to obtain a representative sample size of the PHCC population (N = 6000). Participants will be scheduled for an appointment at a PHCC health centre where a data collector will obtain informed consent, collect vital sign information and administer a questionnaire. A phlebotomist will collect a blood sample. Health service utilization data will be extracted from PHCC's EMR. Epidemiological and health service utilization information is essential to plan and monitor primary care and public health services. The HEALTHSIGHT study, with the help of a randomly selected representative sample from Qatar's primary healthcare settings, provides a unique opportunity to capture this information. This study design will closely represent a real-world understanding of the health risk, status and utilisation and is likely to provide important data to guide primary care planning and delivery in Qatar. The proposed protocol provides an example of a robust nationwide study that be undertaken in short duration using limited resource which can be undertaken in other similar settings.

Medios sociales desde la perspectiva de las agencias de turismo en Florianópolis-SC

One of the mechanisms present in communication that can create connections and influence potential customers of companies in the virtual environment is social media. This research aims to investigate whether tourism agencies in Florianópolis-SC use the social media Instagram and Website to promote their services. The procedure method is qualitative, with the case study as its main modality. The research location is tourism agencies and the variables to investigate the agencies were: a) forms of contact provided by the companies: website, Instagram, telephone only and contactless; b) use of social media Instagram and number of followers. The results showed that there are 281 tourism agencies in Florianópolis-SC, and on Instagram there are 156 with profiles in this media and those that have a website are 121, and 104 with profiles in both media, but the vast majority do not use these media. strategically to build relationships and attract more customers. It is concluded that this gap may be due to the lack of qualifications of managers in relation to the communicative potential of each media studied.

Classic Performing Arts Supply Chain Modeling in Covid 19 Protocol to Support D.I Yogyakarta Cultural Tourism Using Soft System Methodology

The performing arts are a unique and complex industry. To enjoy performing arts products, a customer must come to the rooms where the performance takes place. Performance products can be categorized as service products that do not have a physical form. Every performing arts performance always involves many works of art with a high level of coordination. The flow of materials and information (supply chain) moves very quickly within the limitations of space and time. Because the success of performing arts is influenced by many factors and actors, a performing arts manager must be able to manage the performing arts supply chain well.The Corona Virus Disease 19 (Covid-19) pandemic which has hit almost all corners of the world has formed new patterns of human behavior in working and interacting. Likewise, organizing and enjoying performing arts will look different compared to before the Covid-19 outbreak. The implementation of health protocols is needed to minimize the spread of the virus which has infected more than 13.2 billion people throughout the world.The performing arts supply chain policy model in the Covid-19 protocol to support cultural tourism in D.I Yogyakarta can be implemented by following the Joint Decree Guidelines of the Minister of Education and the Minister of Tourism and Economy dated 02 July 2020. Each actor must pay attention to the technical guidelines for preventing and controlling corona virus disease 2019. Each actor guarantees the hygiene of their respective performing arts equipment. Each actor maintains the form and duration of physical contact and pays attention to health protocols in activities throughout the performing arts supply chain. The performing arts model during the pandemic is realized in regulations that are in accordance with the technical guidelines for preventing and controlling the 2019 corona virus disease.

Impact of agent-based intervention strategies on the COVID-19 pandemic in large-scale dynamic contact networks

Many intervention strategies, such as patient isolation and contact tracking, had been implemented in different countries to slow down and control the spread because of the enormous threats and losses caused by COVID-19. Since the contact relationships of millions of people within cities change over time, it is difficult to accurately predict the dynamics of large-scale outbreaks and evaluate the impact of the contact tracking and isolation strategy based on individual contact history on epidemic transmission. Here, we propose a non-markov spreading model based on individual contact dynamic network, to simulate the dynamic contact processes in a city with millions of people. In this model, the historical contact population of each infected person can be backtracked and tracked. Our model can accurately describe the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan and Hong Kong. We assess the impact of four agent-based epidemic intervention strategies: travel control, contact tracking and isolation, vaccination, and regular nucleic acid testing to all residents on the epidemic evolution and economic losses. We find that for the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, a strict travel control strategy is effective in both suppressing the spread of COVID-19 and minimizing economic losses. For the Omicron variant (BA.2) with stronger infectious capacity, a relatively loose travel control and an appropriate combination of the other three strategies can effectively control the epidemic outbreak while minimize economic losses. This paper provides an efficient framework for assessing the combination of different agent-based strategies by large-scale simulations in the case of unknown historical contact information of large populations, and the studies on different combinations of control strategies can provide theoretical guidance for future prevention and control.

The particular and diffuse effects of negative interactions on participation: Evidence from responses to police killings

AbstractThe relationship between the public and local government is crucial for the success of government in carrying out its duties. Despite this, the public is not always willing to engage with government. Previous research tells us that negative personal bureaucratic interactions can politically demobilize. However, little is known about whether feedback effects on participation are particular to offending government agencies or similarly felt by other organizations in a community. Building on studies of policy feedback, this study investigates how police killings, a form of community police contact, influence the public's willingness to engage with both local police and other local public services. Negative events, even when not directly experienced, disempower the public and undermine legitimacy, depressing participation. We test the effects of policing killings on participation using both observational data on 911 calls and 311 requests and a survey experiment where we manipulate exposure to a community police killing. We find evidence of decreased participation with local police and local government more broadly, contributing to our understanding of policy feedback, policing, and provision of public services.

Tag! You’re Home! Reunification of Pet Cats with their Owners Using a Community Engagement Approach

Reunification of lost pets with their owners is a key function of municipal animal shelters but reported Return to Owner (RTO) rates are as low as 3% for cats. In contrast, the percentage of recovered pet cats found within their own neighborhoods has been reported as high as 66-75%. The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of an innovative program designed to reunite cats with their owners by returning them to their neighborhoods without intake to the shelter. Loudoun County Animal Services, a municipal open-admission animal shelter with an annual intake of 2,300 animals (46% cats), created the Tag!You’re Home! Program (TYHP) on the assumption of positive intent by finders of free-roaming cats. The TYHP engages finders to return un-microchipped healthy social adult cats to their neighborhood after being furnished with a tag and collar with the shelter's contact information. Finders are advised to place the cat back where it was found and not provide food. If the cat is still present after 5 days (mandated stray period) and an owner has not called the shelter, the finder can bring the cat back for intake. Between 7/1/2022 and 12/31/2023, 499 stray cats were admitted to the shelter, 273 of which were adults, and 32 cats were enrolled in the TYHP as an alternative to intake. Of these 32 cats, 10 (31%) were confirmed RTO via owner contact, 10 (31%) did not require additional services (not brought back by finder), 6 (19%) were brought back by the finder after 5 days for intake, 4 (13%) were kept by the finder, and 2 (6%) were rehomed by the finder. Of the 6 cats brought back to the shelter, 1 had an outcome of RTO through the shelter, and 5 had an outcome of adoption. Of the 493 stray cats (267 adults) admitted to the shelter that were not first enrolled in the TYHP, 79 (74 adults) had an outcome of RTO, resulting in a 16% overall RTO rate and 28% adult RTO rate. The most common outcome subtypes for cats RTOed through the shelter were owner called (20%) and microchip (48%). Cats RTOed through the shelter were found a median of 0.4 km (IQR 0.1-1.7), or approximately 4 city blocks, from home. Over 80% of cats enrolled in the TYHP did not require intake to the shelter, and over 30% had a confirmed RTO outcome through the TYHP. While this was very similar to the 28% adult RTO rate reported during the same period for adult cats with intake to the shelter, the TYHP provided a valuable tool to RTO cats without microchips and reduced shelter intake of adult stray cats by 10%.

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair Leads to Improved Patient-Reported Outcomes Compared to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Introduction Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears occur frequently in young athletes, and ligament repair and reconstruction are surgical treatments. Although there are suggested benefits for both approaches, there is a lack of direct comparisons between ACL repair and reconstruction.This study aims to compare the mid-term functional outcomes and quality of life measures between patients that have undergone ACL repair versus reconstruction. Methods A retrospective review was conducted for demographic and operative report data of patients who underwent an ACL repair or reconstruction between 2012 and 2018. Patients were contacted over the phone and underwent a Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) survey evaluating pain interference, mobility, and function. Patients were excluded from the study if there was an incomplete operative note, missing contact information, or failure to answer phone calls. Results A total of 74 eligible patients were included, with n = 54 in the ACL reconstruction group (73.0%) and n = 20 in the ACL repair group (27.0%). Reconstruction patients had a PROMIS (median (IQR)) physical function score of 22.50 (16.00-59.00), as compared to repair patients' physical function score of 60.00 (21.50-60.00). There was a significant difference favoring repair (p = 0.040). In addition, ACL reconstruction patients had a significantly higher rate of additional procedures, with 63.0% of reconstruction patients receiving an additional operation as compared to 30.0% of repair patients (p = 0.017). The surgery type did not show a significant effect on physical function scores, while additional procedures remained significant in the linear regression analysis. Conclusion Although ACL repair is associated with improved physical function scores as compared to reconstruction in the univariate analysis, surgery type did not show significance when controlling for other variables. Further studies are necessary to compare patients with similar injuries to account for differences in additional procedures, but the results remain promising in assisting with patient-driven treatment decisions.

Node features of chromosome structure networks and their connections to genome annotation

The 3D conformations of chromosomes can encode biological significance, and the implications of such structures have been increasingly appreciated recently. Certain chromosome structural features, such as A/B compartmentalization, are frequently extracted from Hi-C pairwise genome contact information (physical association between different regions of the genome) and compared with linear annotations of the genome, such as histone modifications and lamina association. We investigate how additional properties of chromosome structure can be deduced using an abstract graph representation of the contact heatmap, and describe specific network properties that can have a strong connection with some of these biological annotations. We constructed chromosome structure networks (CSNs) from bulk Hi-C data and calculated a set of site-resolved (node-based) network properties. These properties are useful for characterizing certain aspects of chromosomal structure. We examined the ability of network properties to differentiate several scenarios, such as haploid vs diploid cells, partially inverted nuclei vs conventional architecture, depletion of chromosome architectural proteins, and structural changes during cell development. We also examined the connection between network properties and a series of other linear annotations, such as histone modifications and chromatin states including poised promoter and enhancer labels. We found that semi-local network properties exhibit greater capability in characterizing genome annotations compared to diffusive or ultra-local node features. For example, the local square clustering coefficient can be a strong classifier of lamina-associated domains. We demonstrated that network properties can be useful for highlighting large-scale chromosome structure differences that emerge in different biological situations.

"An app is just available at all times"-the process and outcomes of converting the Georgia Tuberculosis Reference Guide into a mobile application.

The physical, paper-based Georgia TB Reference Guide has served as the clinical reference handbook on tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic and treatment guidelines for the state of Georgia in the United States. Supported by the Georgia Department of Public Health, the production of the 112-page palm-sized booklet was previously led by a team of Georgia-based TB experts at Emory University and printed every three-five years with updates to clinical management guidelines and TB consult contact information. However, the costs associated with editorial printing combined with delays in updating a static printed booklet with revised guidance hampered the utility of the tool. Considering the barriers with paper-based production and based on the beneficial use of apps to support the dissemination of clinical management guidance in other settings, the booklet was converted into a mobile application. This paper describes the process of developing a mobile app version of the Georgia TB Reference Guide in an easy-to-update and readily available format. We employed a user-centered design approach to develop the app, including a series of qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys. Participants included a mix of state officials and local TB experts. First, initial foundational interviews were conducted to conceptualize current utilization practices of both the paper and PDF versions of the tool. Second, the findings from the initial interviews were organized thematically and informed the design of the app, which was then beta tested by a round of previously unsampled TB experts as well as a re-sample from the initial interviews. Third, the designs were coded into developmental phases and beta tested among users of the current Georgia TB Reference Guide. Fourth, the app was published and downloaded by a pre-selected group of local users who provided answers to a follow-up survey after using the app for one month. Fifth, user growth, self-reported demographics, and app usage between February and July 2022 were recorded through automatic data metrics built into the app. The paper copy Georgia TB Reference Guide usage themes included commonly referenced content, navigation paths, and desired features and content. The themes were converted into features and designs such as prioritizing commonly reviewed topics and guide customization with bookmarks and notes. Iterations of the designs were driven by feedback from TB experts and included home page featured content, improving content readability, and improving the search feature. The follow-up survey revealed a 90% preference for the app over the paper version of the guide. In the six months following the app's release, the app was downloaded by 281 individuals in the United States. The majority of downloads were in Georgia and the app also expanded organically to 19 other states. The experience of converting the Georgia TB Reference Guide offers specific and effective steps to converting a medical reference guide into a mobile application tool that is readily available, easy to use, and easy to update. The organic dissemination of the app beyond the state of Georgia's borders within the first six months of app launch underscores desire among TB healthcare professionals for high-quality digital reference content outside the state. This experience offers clear outlines for replication in other contexts and demonstrates the utility of similar mobile medical reference tools.

Company Profile Kantor Camat Talang Kelapa Kabupaten Banyuasin

A company profile website is a website that displays information about the company's background, products or services, contact information, and brief news about the company. The Talang Kelapa Sub-District Office already has a website to convey information. Still, no administrative services can be done online on the website, so the community must come directly to the Talang Kelapa sub-district office to carry out administrative services. Due to the lack of information, many people need to learn about the Service Information and Profile of the Talang Kelapa Sub-District Office. With this situation, the researcher is interested in compiling this research activity by taking the title "Company Profile of the Talang Kelapa District Office, Banyuasin Regency." It is hoped that the Information System will make it easier for people to get information about the profile of the Talang Kelapa District Office. Using the PHP programming language and MySQL database. The software development method used in this research is the prototype method. System testing will be carried out using the black box testing method.

Neuroticism personality, social contact, and dementia risk: A prospective cohort study

BackgroundPersonality traits, especially neuroticism, can influence susceptibility to dementia. Social contact mitigates stress and risk of dementia, the extent to which social contact can mitigate excess risk associated with neuroticism remains unclear. We aim to investigate whether active social contact is associated with lower neuroticism-associated excess risk of dementia. MethodsThis prospective cohort study examined 393,939 UK Biobank participants (mean [SD] age: 56.4 [8.1] years; 53.7 % female) assessed from 2006 to 2010 and followed up until December 2022. Neuroticism was measured using the Revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. Social contact levels were assessed based on household size, contact with family or friends, and group participation. Dementia was determined using linked electronic health records. ResultsHigh neuroticism was associated with increased all-cause dementia risk and cause-specific dementia. Among high neuroticism participants, excess risk of all-cause dementia showed a stepwise decrease with increasing social contact (low: hazard ratios (HR) = 1.27, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.15–1.40; intermediate: HR = 1.20, 95 % CI = 1.12–1.28; high: HR = 1.07, 95 % CI = 1.00–1.15). High social contact similarly decreased excess risk of cause-specific dementia, comparable to those with low neuroticism. LimitationsNeuroticism and social contact information relied on self-report questionnaires at baseline, with a potential temporal relationship between these factors. ConclusionActive social contact is associated with a stepwise reduction in excess dementia risk and potentially eliminate excess risk of dementia with high neuroticism individuals, supporting social contact as a preventive strategy to attenuate excess risks of dementia from neuroticism personality trait.

Does Digital Intergroup Contact Reduce Prejudice? A Meta-Analysis.

With the ubiquity of technology in the modern life, contact between different social groups via different digital means is an everyday reality. Can such a digital intergroup contact reduce prejudice, or does it exacerbate it? In this study, we summarize the present evidence on the links between intergroup digital contact and prejudice in a variety of intergroup contexts. We meta-analyzed experimental and correlational evidence from 88 independent samples (n = 9,385). Digital intergroup contact showed a small but significant effect consistent with prejudice reduction (g = 0.25). Direct digital contact showed larger effect than indirect forms of contact, and contact via computer-mediated communication showed larger effects than contact achieved via other activities such as interacting with nonplayable characters or embodiment. The effects were similar regardless of the type of out-group targeted by prejudice. Overall, meta-analytical results suggest that digital intergroup contact may reduce prejudice.

Soft-metal bonding-enabled recyclable and anti-interference flexible multilayer piezoelectric sensor for tractor tire strain monitoring

Real-time efficient sensing of machine-soil interactions, especially precise tire-ground contact information, plays a critical role in cultivation, seeding, and harvesting for smart agriculture. However, the complicated agricultural environment poses a considerable challenge to traditional rigid sensors, which cannot suffer from both large deformation and electromagnetic interference. Here, we report a novel soft-metal BiInSn bonding-enabled recyclable and anti-interference flexible multilayer piezoelectric sensor for monitoring tractor tire strain. The printed BiInSn-ink electrode fully wraps the surface fibers of porous BaTiO3/PVDF-HFP electrospun films only through a low pressure at low temperature due to its unique thermal-softening effects, which of the adhesion strength is superior to the intrinsic tension limit of the film. The compact multilayer piezoelectric sensor is thus easily prepared, remarkably increasing the output voltage compared to a single-layer case (up to 300% for three layers). Benefiting from the low melting point of the BiInSn alloy, the sensors are easily recyclable compared to conventional metal electrodes prepared with copper, silver, and gold. In addition, its high electrical conductivity also enables the shielding layer to achieve ultrahigh shielding effectiveness of 2100 dB mm−1. This sensor can be demonstrated for tire strain sensing under complex operating conditions such as plowing, harrowing, and fertilizer application. These findings serve as a foundation for accelerating the development of smart agriculture.

Examining the feasibility of assisted index case testing for HIV case-finding: a qualitative analysis of barriers and facilitators to implementation in Malawi

BackgroundAssisted index case testing (ICT), in which health care workers take an active role in referring at-risk contacts of people living with HIV for HIV testing services, has been widely recognized as an evidence-based intervention with high potential to increase status awareness in people living with HIV. While the available evidence from eastern and southern Africa suggests that assisted ICT can be an effective, efficient, cost-effective, acceptable, and low-risk strategy to implement in the region, it reveals that feasibility barriers to implementation exist. This study aims to inform the design of implementation strategies to mitigate these feasibility barriers by examining “assisting” health care workers’ experiences of how barriers manifest throughout the assisted ICT process, as well as their perceptions of potential opportunities to facilitate feasibility.MethodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with 26 lay health care workers delivering assisted ICT in Malawian health facilities. Interviews explored health care workers’ experiences counseling index clients and tracing these clients’ contacts, aiming to inform development of a blended learning implementation package. Transcripts were inductively analyzed using Dedoose coding software to identify and describe key factors influencing feasibility of assisted ICT. Analysis included multiple rounds of coding and iteration with the data collection team.ResultsParticipants reported a variety of barriers to feasibility of assisted index case testing implementation, including sensitivities around discussing ICT with clients, privacy concerns, limited time for assisted index case testing amid high workloads, poor quality contact information, and logistical obstacles to tracing. Participants also reported several health care worker characteristics that facilitate feasibility (knowledge, interpersonal skills, non-stigmatizing attitudes and behaviors, and a sense of purpose), as well as identified process improvements with the potential to mitigate barriers.ConclusionsMaximizing assisted ICT’s potential to increase status awareness in people living with HIV requires equipping health care workers with effective training and support to address and overcome the many feasibility barriers that they face in implementation. Findings demonstrate the need for, as well as inform the development of, implementation strategies to mitigate barriers and promote facilitators to feasibility of assisted ICT.Trial registrationNCT05343390. Date of registration: April 25, 2022.