Integral Code Research Articles

Griesmer type bounds for additive codes over finite fields, integral and fractional MDS codes

Griesmer type bounds for additive codes over finite fields, integral and fractional MDS codes

Feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth, individually-tailored healthy lifestyle intervention for adolescent and young adult pediatric cancer survivors.

Poor nutrition and physical activity pose negative health risks for adolescent and young adult pediatric cancer survivors (AYACS). Our pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth intervention (ENHANCE) supporting AYACS' nutrition and physical activity. We randomized 58 AYACS and their adult care partner, when applicable, to the ENHANCE or control condition. Inclusion required an age of 15-25 years, previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and no eating disorder history. We utilized a 2:1 (ENHANCE [n = 35]: control [n = 23]) double-blind block randomization protocol in blocks of 6. ENHANCE comprised 12 (60-min) sessions that included education, skill-building, and values-based healthy lifestyle decision-making. The first five sessions included motivational interviewing and the final seven sessions included problem-solving training/goal setting. We evaluated feasibility based on eligibility, enrollment, attrition, and study completion percentages. We assessed fidelity using the Session Content-Fidelity Rating Tool and the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity Coding form. We assessed acceptability using the Abbreviated Acceptability Rating Profile, the Revised Helping Alliance Questionnaire, and participants' exit interviews. ENHANCE was feasible and highly acceptable; all but one participant who started the intervention completed all 12 sessions and all participants reported enjoying the intervention via objective assessment and during exit interviews. Interventionists delivered ENHANCE with high fidelity. ENHANCE was highly acceptable among AYACS and care partners. The telehealth study design was feasible, suggesting benefits and feasibility of a future, larger, multisite RCT. Promising findings support our methodological decisions as important considerations to inform a larger RCT.

Advances from R2CA project on reactor simulations for burst rod number evaluation during LOCA

In the frame of the “Reduction of Radiological Consequences of design basis and extension accidents” European Union’s Horizon 2020 project, a specific effort was focused on the update and the development of methodologies to assess the radiological consequences of loss-of-coolant accidents. Evaluation of the radiological consequences associated to this accident is strongly linked to the prediction of the rod burst ratio and new approaches were investigated through research and development associated to accident simulation software. Complementarily to approaches chaining system thermalhydraulic simulation to fuel performance code, approaches with integral codes ASTEC, DRACCAR and ATHLET-CD were developed respectively by ENEA, IRSN and HZDR. These applications were demonstrated on LOCA simulation for PWR and highlighted the capabilities of the tools. The ASTEC PWR model was extended by ENEA, which proposes a 2D core model with an increased number of representative fuel rods. HZDR and IRSN proposes approaches based on 3D core model which are able to capture distinctive fuel assembly responses and predict the rod burst ratio according to the distribution of rod behaviors within the core. This work highlighted several possible core models to predict the rod burst ratio and which can be used in integral tools abled to couple thermal hydraulics and thermomechanics. Advanced core models simulating the thermomechanical response of several representative rods per fuel assemblies and using 3D thermal hydraulics model are recommended due to the heterogeneities on power distribution, which impacts flow distribution. The need to model RPV in 3D was underlined by ATHLET-CD large break loss-of-coolant demonstrative case, which exhibits non-symmetric core heat-up.In addition, demonstrative cases proposed by ENEA and IRSN compared predictions obtained with the specific burst criteria developed in the frame of R2CA project and more classical one devoted to the core coolability assessment. The strong sensitivity of the rod burst ratio prediction to the burst criteria was highlighted. The need to handle uncertainties within a global methodology for rod burst ratio evaluation was underlined.Finally, throughout the development of loss-of-coolant accident applications with ASTEC, DRACCAR and ATHLET-CD, some prospects of development were identified for the codes and should bring advances for LOCA simulation and RBR predictions.

Using Open Source to Accelerate Development of a Finite Element-Boundary Integral Code

Using Open Source to Accelerate Development of a Finite Element-Boundary Integral Code

Flexible and Reconfigurable OFDM Implementation in DSP Platform for Various Purposes and Applications.

In the modern technological era of sophisticated applications and high-quality communications, a platform of clever strategy and quickly updated systems is needed. It should be capable of withstanding the fastest emerging problems like signal attenuation and hostile actions intended to harm the whole network. The main contributions of this work are the production of an OFDM system (with low cost) that can sustain high-speed communications and be easily adjusted with new integrated code while exhibiting the feasibility of implementing a transmitter-receiver system in the same DSP and demonstrating the holistic approach with the qualitative integration of such an architecture in a warfare scenario. Specifically, in this research, the point of view is toward three facts. The first is to show a method of quick self-checking the operational status of a digital signal processor (DSP) platform and then the pedagogical issues of how to fast check and implement an updated code inside DSPs through simple schematics. The second point is to present the prototype system that can easily be programmed using a graphical user interface (GUI) and can change its properties (such as the transmitted modulated sinusoids-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing subcarriers). Alongside the presentation, the measurements are presented and discussed. These were acquired with the use of an oscilloscope and spectrum analyzer. The third point is to qualitatively show the application of such a system inside a modern warfare environment and to recommend various potential system responses according to the development of such a platform of reconfigurable implemented OFDM systems. The implementation was performed for two types of systems: (1) transmitter and (2) transmitter-receiver system. Notably, the system acts quickly with a delay of about 1 msec in the case of transmitting and receiving in the same DSP, suggesting excellent future results under real conditions.

Improving patient-centred counselling skills among lay healthcare workers in South Africa using the Thusa-Thuso motivational interviewing training and support program.

We developed a motivational interviewing (MI) counselling training and support program for lay counsellors in South Africa-branded "Thusa-Thuso-helping you help", commonly referred to as Thusa-Thuso. We present the results of a pilot study to determine the program's impact on MI technical skills and qualitatively assess the feasibility of a training-of-trainers (TOT) scale-up strategy among counselling staff of non-governmental (NGO) support partners of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment program in South Africa. We enrolled adult (≥ 18 years) lay counsellors from ten primary healthcare clinics in Johannesburg (South Africa) selected to participate in the Thusa-Thuso training and support program. Counsellors attended the ten-day baseline and quarterly refresher training over 12 months (October 2018-October 2019). Each counsellor submitted two audio recordings of mock counselling sessions held during the ten-day baseline training and two additional recordings of sessions with consenting patients after each quarterly contact session. We reviewed the recordings using the MI treatment integrity (MITI) coding system to determine MI technical (cultivating change talk and softening sustain talk) and relational (empathy and partnership) competency scores before and after training. After 12 months of support with pilot site counsellors, we were asked to scale up the training to NGO partner team trainers in a once-off five-day Training of trainers (TOT) format (n = 127 trainees from November 2020 to January 2021). We report TOT training experiences from focus group discussions (n = 42) conducted six months after the TOT sessions. Of the 25 enrolled lay counsellors from participating facilities, 10 completed the 12-month Thusa-Thuso program. Attrition over the 12 months was caused by death (n = 3), site exclusion/resignations (n = 10), and absence (n = 2). MI competencies improved as follows: the technical skills score increased from a mean of 2.5 (standard deviation (SD): 0.8) to 3.1 (SD: 0.5), with a mean difference of 0.6 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.04, 0.9). The MI relational skills score improved from a mean of 3.20 (SD: 0.7) to 3.5 (SD: 0.6), with a mean difference of 0.3 (95% CI: -0.3, 8.5). End-point qualitative data from the counsellors highlighted the value of identifying and addressing specific skill deficiencies and the importance of counsellors being able to self-monitor skill development using the MITI review process. Participants appreciated the ongoing support to clarify practical MI applications. The TOT program tools were valuable for ongoing on-the-job development and monitoring of quality counselling skills. However, the MITI review process was perceived to be too involved for large-scale application and was adapted into a scoring form to document sit-in mentoring sessions. The Thusa-Thuso MI intervention can improve counsellor motivation and skills over time. In addition, the program can be scaled up using an adapted TOT process supplemented with fidelity assessment tools, which are valuable for skills development and ongoing maintenance. However, further studies are needed to determine the effect of the Thusa-Thuso program on patient ART adherence and retention in care. Trial registration: Pan African Clinical Trials Registry No: PACTR202212796722256 (12 December 2022).

Evaluations of radionuclide activity releases into environment during loss of coolant accidents using the ASTEC code in pressurized water reactors within design basis and design extension conditions

The work described in this paper was carried out within the R2CA (Reduction of Radiological Consequences of design basis and extension Accidents) project, funded in HORIZON 2020 and coordinated by IRSN (France). An increase of the level of Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) safety by consolidated and more realistic evaluations of the Radiological Consequences (RC) of Design Basis Accidents (DBA) and a strengthening of the assessments of the NPP safety levels by considering accidental situations more severe than those integrated in plant designs (i.e belonging to Design Extension Conditions domain) were the two main motivations behind this project.More specifically, the project aims at consolidating and/or refining the assessments of the radiological consequences of explicit accidental scenarios within Design Basis Accidents (DBA) and Design Extension Conditions (DEC-A conditions without significant fuel degradation) in Light Water Reactors (LWR) through the improvements of existing code predictability; the upgrading of calculation chains and methodologies; the development/refinements of models. Within the Work Package 2 of the project, coordinated by TRACTEBEL and dedicated to calculation methodologies, existing methodologies or calculation chains and simulation tools have been applied to run a first batch of calculations dealing with different reactor types: PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor), BWR (Boiling Water Reactor), VVER (Water-Water Power Reactor) and EPR (European Pressurized Reactor). Loss Of Coolant (LOCA) and Steam Generator Tube Rupture (SGTR) accidents have been selected for the exercise and bounding scenarios of the DBA and DEC-A domains have been analysed. The results of this first set of calculations will be used as a reference to quantify the gains obtained by the updated methodologies/simulation tools developed within the project.This paper describes the results of the first batch of calculations, performed with the ASTEC integral code, simulating LOCA scenarios (DBA and DEC-A categories) in a PWR 900 MWe with a focus on the predicted number of failed fuel rods and Source Term (ST) in the environment governing the RC. Limitations of the used approach are outlined, as well as the needs for further upgrading the calculation chains are proposed in the light of the improvement that was planned within the project in Work Package 3 (WP3: LOCA – Loss of Cooling Accidents), coordinated by IRSN and dedicated to the improvement of code models dealing with LOCA scenarios.

Validation of the severe accident module of the EVKLID/V2 integral code on the base of experiments with fission products release and dissociation of nitride fuel

Validation of the severe accident module of the EVKLID/V2 integral code on the base of experiments with fission products release and dissociation of nitride fuel

Student perspectives on the use of generative artificial intelligence technologies in higher education

The aim of this project was to understand student perspectives on generative artificial intelligence (GAI) technologies such as Chat generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT), in order to inform changes to the University of Liverpool Academic Integrity code of practice. The survey for this study was created by a library student team and vetted through focus groups. A total of 2555 students participated in the survey. Results showed that only 7% of students who responded had not heard of any GAI technologies, whilst over half had used or considered using these for academic purposes. The majority of students (54.1%) were supportive or somewhat supportive of using tools such as Grammarly, but 70.4% were unsupportive or somewhat unsupportive towards students using tools such as ChatGPT to write their whole essay. Students who had higher levels of confidence in their academic writing were less likely to use or consider using them for academic purposes, and were also less likely to be supportive of other students using them. Most students (41.1%) also thought there should be a university wide policy on when these technologies are or are not appropriate to use. The results of this research suggest that students require clear policies on the use of GAI and that these technologies should not be banned from university, but consideration must be made to ensure different groups of students have equal access to the technologies.

Hubungan antara Organisasi BEM dengan perilaku Pro-Sosial Mahasiswa STIAB Smaratungga

Membership and active involvement in BEM provides students with the opportunity to grow their leadership talents, supervise teams, and oversee ventures that benefit students and the surrounding campus community. In addition, BEM plays a role in supporting a code of ethics, integrity, and responsibility in its members, thereby shaping student behavior in a way that is achieved. This investigation uses quantitative techniques, using a correlational research design, to ascertain and examine the relationship between the BEM organizational entity and students' prosocial attitudes. at STIAB Smaratungga. The results obtained from data analysis reveal an affirmative correlation between BEM membership and students' prosocial behavior, with the regression equation strengthening this relationship. Therefore, these findings strengthen the idea that involvement in BEM has the capacity to shape students' prosocial behavior at the Smaratungga College of Buddhist Studies (STIAB), which in turn can have a beneficial influence on the campus environment and society in general.

Examining the use of psychiatric collaborative care and behavioral health integration codes at federally qualified health centers: A mixed-methods study.

Despite evidence to support the integration of behavioral health and physical health care, the adoption of Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) has been stymied by a lack of reliable and sustainable financing mechanisms. This study aimed to provide information on the use of Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) and behavioral health integration (BHI) codes and the implementation of IBH in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study involved an electronic survey of administrators and follow-up qualitative interviews from a subset of survey respondents. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and thematic coding was used to analyze qualitative data to identify salient themes. Administrators (N = 52) from 11 states completed the survey. Use of CoCM (13%) or BHI codes (17.4%) was low. Most administrators were not aware that CoCM (72%) or BHI codes (70%) existed. Qualitative interviews (n = 9) described barriers that further complicate IBH and code use like workforce shortages and insufficient reimbursement for the cost to deliver CoCM services. Although FQHCs are working to meet the needs of the communities they serve, a lack of billing clarity and awareness and workforce issues hinder the adoption of the CoCM. FQHCs face many demands to provide care to safety net populations, yet are not fully equipped with the resources, workflows, staffing, and payment structures to support CoCM/BHI billing. Increased financial and logistical support to build practice infrastructure is needed to reduce the administrative complexity and inadequate reimbursement mechanisms that currently hinder the implementation of the CoCM and integrated care delivery. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Requirements for the EUCLID-F Integral Code for the Deterministic Analysis of Accidents in Fusion Reactors

Requirements for the EUCLID-F Integral Code for the Deterministic Analysis of Accidents in Fusion Reactors

Teaching research integrity as discussed in research integrity codes: A systematic literature review

ABSTRACT Presented here is a systematic literature review of how RI teaching is discussed in national and international research integrity (RI) codes. First, we set out to identify the codes that exist, and performed some generic analysis on them. Following a comprehensive search strategy, which included all 193 United Nations member states, we identified 52 national and 14 international RI codes. RI teaching is addressed in 46 national and 10 international codes. We then examined how the codes address RI teaching under the following headings: the aims, the target audience, the ethics approach proposed, the assessment and/or evaluation strategy, and any challenges identified in relation to RI teaching. There is considerable overlap between the aims of RI teaching in the various codes, for example, promoting awareness of RI. Most codes claim RI teaching is for all researchers, but without any in-depth guidance. While educational programmes, training, and mentorship/supervision are proposed for RI teaching, there is insufficient detail to identify the ethics approach to be used in such teaching. Lastly, only few address assessment and/or evaluation or challenges in RI teaching. Here, we analyzed how current codes address RI teaching; we identified some shortfalls, and in our discussion we advance recommendations.

Low Dimensional Relevance Coding for Personalized Tag Recommendation in Image Tagging Applications

An approach of image coding for tag recommendation based on feature clustering and weighted coding is presented in this paper. The existing tag recommendation approach develops a decision based on correlation of image features and their tag annotated. The descriptive feature of the image sample defines the content of an image and is correlated with database features for tag recommendation. The feature dimension and its representation have a greater impact on the recommendation performance. The recent method tag recommendation developed CNN based visual features and proposed a tag recommendation based on weight factor. The dimensional feature and the isolated weight allocation limit the performance of presented tag recommendation system. This paper presents a new weight allocation and feature clustering method for tag recommendation. An approach of integral coding for weighted image-tag is presented to improve recommendation accuracy. The proposed recommendation system performance is tested on Flickr dataset for retrieval and recommendation accuracy.

Harmonization of patient-reported outcome measurement across four academic medical centers: Multi-site clinician focus group results from the Carolinas Collaborative Initiative.

336 Background: Use of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to monitor symptoms in cancer care demonstrates clinical benefit, but implementation of PROs across healthcare settings remains low. We conducted focus groups (FGs) with stakeholders from four academic medical centers (AMCs) to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to implementing PROs in routine care. Methods: Stakeholders were recruited to participate in FGs and asked to identify barriers and facilitators of future PRO implementation in their respective healthcare setting. Transcripts were coded and synthesized via thematic content analysis. Results: Seventy stakeholders participated in one of 14 FGs (leadership groups, n = 5; nurse groups, n = 4; physician groups, n = 5) stratified by role and site. The mean FG size was 5 (range = 2 to 14). Three overarching domains were identified: Workflow, Training and Implementation, and Data-Driven Action. Table 1 shows the relative frequency of notable codes associated with each domain across FGs aggregated by stakeholder role. Themes within each domain are: Workflow: current workflow dynamics inhibit PRO implementation (code = Workflow, Table 1); more resources are necessary to adjust clinical workflow and the EMR to facilitate administration and clinicians’ ability to respond to concerning symptoms (code = Resources needed, Table 1). Training and Implementation: clinicians may be unaware of the utility of PROs; training about the clinical relevance of PROs may help facilitate integration (code = Training needs, Table 1). Data-Driven Action: data derived from PROs must be interpretable and actionable to promote sustained utility (code = How to display PROs, Table 1). Tailored measures for specific clinical populations are needed, along with information on clinically significant scores, meaningful change thresholds, predictive value, and whether integration of PROs improves healthcare quality. Conclusions: Similar barriers to PRO implementation were identified across four AMCs. Infrastructure is needed in each AMC to help clinics integrate PROs. Resources to address workflow inefficiencies, EMR integration, clinician training, and follow-up support may help facilitate integration. Academic medical centers must also ensure that data derived from PROs are relevant and actionable.[Table: see text]

Integrity coded databases - protecting data integrity for outsourced databases

In recent years, cloud storage has become a viable option for businesses to store and retrieve information. This storage service allows its clients releasing from financial burden of hiring professionals to maintain local databases. However, it comes at a cost of requiring the clients to relinquish control of their data to cloud service providers. There remains the possibility of malicious attacks to make the data no longer correct, fresh nor complete. This paper presents a novel database model called the Integrity Coded Database (ICDB), where the model allows the client to insert Integrity Codes (ICs), as well as fake tuples, to an outsourced database, run queries against the server, and verify that the queried data from the cloud is both correct, fresh and complete. We have benchmarked and evaluated six ICDB schemes with different combinations of three IC generation algorithms and two integrity verification modes.

An analytical model to decompose mass transfer and chemical process contributions to molecular iodine release from aqueous phase under severe accident conditions

Radioactive iodine is a representative fission product to be quantified for the safety assessment of nuclear facilities. In integral severe accident analysis codes, the iodine behavior is usually described by a multi-physical model of iodine chemistry in aqueous phase under radiation field and mass transfer through gas-liquid interface. The focus of studies on iodine source term evaluations using the combination approach is usually put on the chemical aspect, but each contribution to the iodine amount released to the environment has not been decomposed so far. In this study, we attempted the decomposition by revising the two-film theory of molecular-iodine mass transfer. The model involves an effective overall mass transfer coefficient to consider the iodine chemistry. The decomposition was performed by regarding the coefficient as a product of two functions of pH and the overall mass transfer coefficient for molecular iodine. The procedure was applied to the EPICUR experiment and suppression chamber in BWR.

Methods for the radioactive release estimation under DEC-A conditions

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, the importance was raised to strengthen the assessment of the safety level of Nuclear Power Plants (NPP) by considering situations more severe than those integrated during the design of the plants. Design Extension Conditions (DEC) term was introduced by IAEA and WENRA. One of the most important subjects in the analysis of these conditions is the evaluation of radiological consequences.The Reduction of Radiological Accident Consequences (R2CA) collaborative project started in 2019 in the frame of the Horizon-2020 Program of the European Commission. The project addresses a broad scope of LWR designs (Gen II, III and III +) through the analyses of bounding scenarios of Loss Of Coolant Accidents (LOCA) and Steam Generator Tube Rupture (SGTR) transients and explores DBA and DEC-A conditions. The Lithuanian Energy Institute is taking part in this project as well.The part of work provided in the frame of R2CA project is presented in this article. The generic BWR-4 type reactor with MARK-I containment was analyzed in the case of DEC-A conditions. In this analysis the main thermal hydraulic processes, fission product release and its transport from the broken loop through containment to the environment were investigated. The number of ruptured fuel assemblies is the key parameter determining the fission product release from the core. The methodology which would help more precisely evaluate the number of failed fuel assemblies is presented in this work. The methodology consists of the application of integral severe accident code ASTEC and fuel performance code TRANSURANUS. Analysis using ASTEC code showed the importance of the reactor core nodalisation scheme. Taking iterative calculations, the relative power to which fuel assemblies remain intact at the selected DEC-A condition scenario was obtained. These results were verified with TRANSURANUS code calculations considering the uncertainties of the most relevant parameters. Based on TRANSURANUS calculation results, the ASTEC core nodalisation was improved. Improved ASTEC model nodalisation allowed to calculate more realistic rates of fission products releases from the fuel to the coolant, from the coolant to the containment and as well from the containment to the environment.

Shear speed in Arctic ice and underwater acoustic reflection

The underwater reflected sound wave under a sheet of Arctic ice contains information about the ice including thickness and mechanical properties. The ideal case of a perfectly flat ice floe floating above the water may be modeled using the OASES wavenumber integration code. A spectrogram of the acoustic response contains features related to the compressional and shear waves. The resonance associated with the shear wave speed in the ice is particularly distinctive. In the real world, the ice-water interface is not perfectly smooth. The finite element code SPECFEM2D is used to simulate the response of ice with a rough ice–water interface. It is particularly well suited to this problem since it accounts for all orders of multiple reflections. It shows the effects of fine-scale roughness on the acoustic response. Depending on the severity of the roughness, it may enhance or diminish the acoustic features related to the properties of the ice. [Work supported by the U. S. Office of Naval Research, Code 32 Grant N00014-20-1-2041 (N. Chotiros). G. Bayrakci and A. Best were funded by the UK Defence and Security Accelerator, Grant ACC2016927. The Texas Advanced Computing Center provided the high-performance computing resources.]

Local and long-range GABAergic circuits in hippocampal area CA1 and their link to Alzheimer's disease.

GABAergic inhibitory neurons are the principal source of inhibition in the brain. Traditionally, their role in maintaining the balance of excitation-inhibition has been emphasized. Beyond homeostatic functions, recent circuit mapping and functional manipulation studies have revealed a wide range of specific roles that GABAergic circuits play in dynamically tilting excitation-inhibition coupling across spatio-temporal scales. These span from gating of compartment- and input-specific signaling, gain modulation, shaping input-output functions and synaptic plasticity, to generating signal-to-noise contrast, defining temporal windows for integration and rate codes, as well as organizing neural assemblies, and coordinating inter-regional synchrony. GABAergic circuits are thus instrumental in controlling single-neuron computations and behaviorally-linked network activity. The activity dependent modulation of sensory and mnemonic information processing by GABAergic circuits is pivotal for the formation and maintenance of episodic memories in the hippocampus. Here, we present an overview of the local and long-range GABAergic circuits that modulate the dynamics of excitation-inhibition and disinhibition in the main output area of the hippocampus CA1, which is crucial for episodic memory. Specifically, we link recent findings pertaining to GABAergic neuron molecular markers, electrophysiological properties, and synaptic wiring with their function at the circuit level. Lastly, given that area CA1 is particularly impaired during early stages of Alzheimer's disease, we emphasize how these GABAergic circuits may contribute to and be involved in the pathophysiology.