Pilot Assessment Research Articles

Pilot Assessment of Knowledge and Compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals as Drivers for Strengthening BioTrade

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and BioTrade are fundamental to address socio-environmental challenges and promote sustainable development. This study assessed the level of knowledge of the SDGs among students, faculty, and administrative staff of the Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam (URAI) using a validated survey and also analyzed Ikiam’s contribution to the fulfillment of the SDGs. Through a qualitative analysis of interviews with experts, a SWOT matrix was designed to understand the status of BioTrade, and strategies were proposed to improve the understanding of the relationship between BioTrade and SDG compliance. The results showed that there is limited knowledge of the SDGs, with significant variations between groups. Also, it was shown that the SDGs to which the university population is most related, according to the area to which they are linked, are SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 6, and SDG 11, while the greatest contribution of Ikiam to the SDGs is made through research and outreach projects. On the other hand, it was shown that the main limitation faced by BioTrade is the lack of knowledge of this initiative in the population, so it is important that academia promotes the strategies proposed to promote the fulfillment of SDGs through effective tools such as BioTrade.

Cross-cutting integration of equity and diversity lens in public health: a novel approach of JACARDI

Abstract Issue/Problem Health inequities persist across European countries, impacting the distribution, prevention, and management of non-communicable diseases. With increasing population diversity and improved understanding of the intersectional nature of drivers of health inequities, narrowing inequities calls for systematic integration of diversity perspectives into equity-driven policy and practice. Description of the problem The EU-co-funded Joint Action on CVDs and diabetes (JACARDI, 11/2023-10/2027) project with 76 partners from 21 countries and 142 national-level projects (later pilots), applies a structured approach for integrating equity and diversity perspectives within all project structures. This is achieved through design of a common methodological framework and terminology glossary for all thematic work packages (WPs) and their pilots, which are further supported through capacity building sessions and consultations. Results The “4Cs” framework (Critical reflection; Context and data; Co-design; and inclusive and accessible Communications) for integrating equity and diversity principles in JACARDI was developed based on results of focus group interviews with WP leaders (n = 24) and review of previous literature. This framework was applied as a lens to be applied in the planned activities by WPs and pilots, elaborated in an equity and diversity maturity matrix aligned with the XV methodological steps for pilot implementation. Additionally, equity and diversity indicators were integrated into harmonized context analysis questionnaires for national focal points of each partner country, as well as into the methodology for pilot assessment and reporting. Lessons Equity and diversity perspectives should be integrated into the core structures of project implementation, supported by practical tools, trainings and practical consultations to improve adherence and collaborative understanding across project partners. Key messages • Equity and diversity integration into core structures are essential for tackling health inequities and the NCD-related social gradient in Europe. • Encouraging critical reflection among JACARDI partners is pivotal for initiating a paradigm shift towards equity and diversity inclusion.

Pilot Assessment of Impacts of Ozone and Ozone/Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment on the Fate of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Precursors.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) make up a large class of anthropogenic micropollutants prevalent in wastewater. Oxidative processes commonly used in wastewater potable reuse treatment may affect transformation of PFAS precursors, leading to elevated concentrations of perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) that are significant health concerns. This work conducted a pilot-scale investigation to assess the influence of ozonation (O3) and ozone/hydrogen peroxide (O3/H2O2) advanced oxidation process (AOP), respectively, on the fate of PFAS in a wastewater effluent subjected to reuse. The study evaluated 40 target PFAS and associated precursors [based on the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay] under various treatment conditions, including different ozone doses (1.0-4.0 mg·L-1), H2O2 doses (0-0.20 mg·L-1), and contact time (0-20 min). Results indicated that short-chain (C3-C7) PFAAs dominated in concentrations, while overall PFAA concentrations were elevated by both oxidative treatment processes, particularly after high-dose ozonation treatment. TOP assays revealed that there were considerable amounts of PFAA precursors in the reuse wastewater, and their concentrations were decreased after the oxidative treatment with an increase of some of the PFAAs. This pilot study demonstrated that ozone and ozone-based AOP treatments can have a moderate influence on the transformation of PFAS and increase in PFAA levels under practical conditions.

Background activity of naturally occurring and reference values of fallout radionuclides in soils of mountainous areas (Armenia)

ABSTRACT Complex mountainous relief and diverse geology that are common for the whole territory of Armenia are strong limiting factors for regional scale geochemical survey, for assessment of the geochemical background of naturally occurring radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th, 40K) and reference values of artificial 137Cs. Sampling transects spanned by altitude in mountain ridges and massifs, representing the main geological formations of the area, are informative enough for a pilot assessment of background and reference activity of radionuclides in soils. A total of 131 undisturbed soil samples were collected from 8 mountain ranges and massifs throughout Armenia. HPGe detector-based gamma spectrometry was used for the quantification of radionuclide activity concentrations. Geology and soil type were the main factors in the formation of radionuclide composition in the soil. The reasonably close estimates of naturally occurring radionuclide background activity were obtained from the application of ‘Median ± 2MAD’ and Tukey’s boxplot methods. The results yielded by both methods could be employed as a background, contingent upon the specific objectives being addressed. The distribution of 137Cs exhibits strong dependence on the altitude and therefore, its reference activity concentrations were estimated at distinct elevation intervals applying the ‘Median ± 2MAD’ method.

Development of an multicriteria decision analysis framework for rare disease reimbursement prioritization in Malaysia.

Rare diseases (RD)-related policies have received significant attention due to the pressing medical requirements associated with these medical conditions and the substantial impact and treatments they may have on healthcare budgets. Nevertheless, policymakers frequently encounter difficulties in managing issues concerning resource allocation and prioritization within this population. Realizing the need to address such problems, this study was conducted to develop a framework based on the multicriteria decision analysis to improve RD reimbursement prioritization in Malaysia. Primarily, a scoping review was performed to identify the methods and criteria used for the reimbursement of RD treatment, followed by strategic stakeholder engagement and a deliberative process on determining the best approach for the framework, including criteria identification, elicitation of weights, and a pilot assessment using the framework. The findings reflected the priorities and perspectives of the stakeholders, which identified eight key criteria and their associated weights, namely effectiveness (19.6 percent), disease severity (15.6 percent), safety (14.2 percent), access to treatment (12.6 percent), economic consideration (12.2 percent), type of therapeutic treatment (11.5 percent), availability of alternatives (8.3 percent), and population group (6 percent). In summary, the developed framework was well-accepted by the Rare Disease Committee, which will be applied as part of the committee deliberation for transparent and equitable decision making on fund allocation and reimbursement of orphan and RD treatment in Malaysia.

Effects of Weather Information Observability and Uncertainty on Pilot Assessment of Weather Conditions and Decision Making

Effects of Weather Information Observability and Uncertainty on Pilot Assessment of Weather Conditions and Decision Making

Load-dependent optical coherence tomography attenuation imaging: How tissue mechanics can influence optical scattering

Mechanical load imparted to tissue, for example via handheld imaging probes, leads to tissue deformation, altering the distribution of tissue microstructure and, consequently, attenuation of light and image formation in optical imaging. In mechanically heterogeneous tissue, the load can result in spatially varying deformation and, therefore, spatially varying changes in the attenuation of light, which may provide additional image contrast. To investigate this potential, an assessment of the spatially resolved impact of mechanical deformation of the tissue on optical imaging is critical; however, it is challenging to incorporate stress mapping into optical imaging without obscuring the detection of photons. To address this, we present the novel integration of stress imaging using optical palpation with attenuation imaging based on optical coherence tomography (OCT). The method was implemented using a compliant silicone sensor incorporated into a custom handheld OCT probe, providing two-dimensional stress imaging with concurrent attenuation imaging. Attenuation imaging with varying mechanical loads was demonstrated on 19 tissue regions acquired from eight freshly excised human breast specimens. The results demonstrated distinct characteristics for different breast tissue types: benign stroma showed relatively large increases in attenuation (e.g., ∼0.3 to 0.4 mm−1/kPa) over a low stress range (∼2 to 10 kPa), while cancerous tissue showed markedly small increases in attenuation (e.g., ∼0.005 to 0.02 mm−1/kPa) mainly over a medium to high stress range (∼10 to 90 kPa). The integration of stress imaging with attenuation imaging provided a pilot assessment of the spatially resolved impact of tissue mechanical heterogeneity on optical attenuation, providing novel image contrast by encoding variations in mechanical properties on optical attenuation in tissue.

Segmentation Guided Crossing Dual Decoding Generative Adversarial Network for Synthesizing Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography Images.

Although contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT) images significantly improve the accuracy of diagnosing focal liver lesions (FLLs), the administration of contrast agents imposes a considerable physical burden on patients. The utilization of generative models to synthesize CE-CT images from non-contrasted CT images offers a promising solution. However, existing image synthesis models tend to overlook the importance of critical regions, inevitably reducing their effectiveness in downstream tasks. To overcome this challenge, we propose an innovative CE-CT image synthesis model called Segmentation Guided Crossing Dual Decoding Generative Adversarial Network (SGCDD-GAN). Specifically, the SGCDD-GAN involves a crossing dual decoding generator including an attention decoder and an improved transformation decoder. The attention decoder is designed to highlight some critical regions within the abdominal cavity, while the improved transformation decoder is responsible for synthesizing CE-CT images. These two decoders are interconnected using a crossing technique to enhance each other's capabilities. Furthermore, we employ a multi-task learning strategy to guide the generator to focus more on the lesion area. To evaluate the performance of proposed SGCDD-GAN, we test it on an in-house CE-CT dataset. In both CE-CT image synthesis tasks-namely, synthesizing ART images and synthesizing PV images-the proposed SGCDD-GAN demonstrates superior performance metrics across the entire image and liver region, including SSIM, PSNR, MSE, and PCC scores. Furthermore, CE-CT images synthetized from our SGCDD-GAN achieve remarkable accuracy rates of 82.68%, 94.11%, and 94.11% in a deep learning-based FLLs classification task, along with a pilot assessment conducted by two radiologists.

Pilot Assessment of Piezoelectric Transducers as a Cost-Effective Alternative to EndoPAT

Introduction: Current microvascular assessments may not be practical or accessible requiring experienced personnel and/or ongoing equipment costs. Piezoelectric transducers can reliably obtain finger blood pressure waves, similar to peripheral arterial tonometry devices; thus, they could be used to estimate microvascular function. We aimed to validate piezoelectric transducers as an alternative measure of microvascular function compared to EndoPAT. Methods: Twenty-five adults (aged 20–64 years) completed reactive hyperemia (5 min forearm circulatory occlusion and 3 min recovery) with piezoelectric transducers on the middle fingers and EndoPAT probes on the index fingers. Average area under the curve (AUC) of the pulse wave signal for the occluded and control arms was determined at baseline, every 30 s post-occlusion, and 10 s around the peak response. Microvascular function index (MFI) was calculated as the ratio of AUC post-occlusion to AUC baseline in the test arm, then normalized to the same ratio in the control arm. MFI at each time point was correlated with the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) from the EndoPAT. Results: The greatest significance was found between RHI and MFI at 10 s around the peak response (Spearman’s r = 0.67, p = 0.0002; Pearson’s r = 0.76, p = 0.00001). Conclusion: MFI is a reusable and user-friendly microvascular function assessment that could provide better access to vascular health screening.

Development, Implementation, and Assessment of an Online Modular Telehealth Curriculum for Health Professions Students.

Several national health profession organizations endorse or have developed competencies for telehealth, yet there is no standardized curriculum for teaching telehealth to health professions students. Additionally, implementing telehealth curricula is challenging due to limited curricular space and differing needs of various health profession programs. We describe the development, implementation, and pilot assessment of an online, modular telehealth curriculum for health professions students. An online, modular telehealth curriculum for health professions students was developed in 2021-2022. Nine modules were created, focusing on the logistics of performing a telehealth visit and system-based virtual assessments. In academic year 2022-2023, course directors from the Duke doctor of medicine (MD), physician assistant (PA), and nurse practitioner (NP) programs utilized modules in their courses. For modules taken, students were surveyed and self-assessed their confidence, knowledge gained, and likelihood of utilizing the telehealth skills taught in the module(s). During the 2022-2023 academic year, MD, NP, and PA students at Duke participated in one or more of the telehealth modules in an existing course. The median responses to self-assessed confidence questions for all health profession students to be in the "moderately" or "very confident" range. Similarly, students reported a median response of "moderate knowledge gained" for each module taken. NP students reported slightly lower levels of confidence and likelihood of utilizing telehealth skills than other professions. No other significant differences in the remainder of responses were observed between health professions. Exposure of health professions students to telehealth through utilization of online, interactive modules may result in increased telehealth skill confidence and knowledge, and furthermore, a belief that they will utilize these skills in future practice. Larger scale implementation of the telehealth curriculum and development of outcome measures which assess clinical application of skills conveyed will provide more information about the efficacy of the curriculum.

Relations of personality factors and suitability ratings to Swedish military pilot education completion

AbstractImproved understanding of what it takes to be a pilot is an ongoing effort within aviation. We used an exploratory approach to examine whether there are personality‐related differences in who completes the Swedish military pilot education. Assessment records of 182 applicants, accepted to the education between the years of 2004 and 2020 were studied (Mean age 24, SD 4.2 96% men, 4% women). Discriminant analysis was used to explore which personality traits and suitability ratings might be related to education completion. Analysis included suitability assessments made by senior pilots and by a psychologist, a number of traits assessed by the same psychologist, as well as the Commander Trait Inventory (CTI). The resulting discriminant function was significant (Wilk's Lambda = 0.808, (20) = 32.817, p = .035) with a canonical correlation of 0.44. The model was able to classify 74.1% of sample cases correctly. The modeling suggests that senior pilot assessment and psychologist assessment both predict education completion. Also contributing were the traits energy, professional motivation, study forecast and leader potential.

Aeroelastic effects in PIO occurrences: A dual approach on flight simulator tests

This article presents the PIO identification for a conceptual aircraft subjected to aeroelastic effects. The flight data was obtained in an extensive flight simulator campaign, using the DLR AVES full-motion simulator, performed by four test pilots, as part of Embraer's/DLR's DinAFlex project. The aircraft model inserted in the simulator considered three cases, varying in structural flexibility and model fidelity (quasi-static corrections or the presence of aeroelastic modes). The first stage of the analysis presented the PIO identification from the pilots' perspective, considering their PIOR assessment. The subjective nature inherent to the PIOR scale was explored by comparing the flight configurations' assessment, using a proposed metric called pilot-to-pilot discrepancy, along with possible causes of its existence. The second stage presented the ROVER analysis, a quantitative approach that identified PIO events in the data and correlated them with the PIOR results, using another proposed metric called ROVER-to-pilot discrepancy. The discrepancy metrics provided a deep understanding of how the pilots deal with aeroelastic effects and evidenced that the PIOR assessment was impaired as these effects increased, presenting an issue to flight testing and certification of new, more flexible, aircraft, where pilot's assessment is of great importance.

Pilot Assessment of Platelet Thrombus Area and Contractile Force in Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery Patients Using a Microfluidic Device

ObjectivesEvaluate maximum platelet contractile force and thrombus area before and after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in pediatric patients having congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery using a microfluidic device. DesignProspective cohort study. SettingAcademic medical center. ParticipantsTwenty pediatric CHD patients ≤ 8 years of age with expected CPB time >30 minutes. InterventionsNone Measurements and Main ResultsBlood was collected at baseline and post-CPB. Maximum platelet contractile force and thrombus area were evaluated in vitro using a microfluidic device (ATLAS PST). Post-CPB samples were supplemented with recombinant von Willebrand Factor (rVWF) to explore impact on contractile force and thrombus area. At baseline, maximum thrombus area was 0.06 [0.05, 0.07] and maximum force was 123.3 nN [68.4, 299.5]. Linear mixed effects regression models showed that maximum thrombus area was larger post-CPB and post-CPB + rVWF compared to pre-CPB (Est=0.04, p=0.002 and Est = 0.09, p < .001, respectively). Maximum thrombus area was also larger post-CPB + rVWF compared to post-CPB (Est=0.04, p=0.001). Force was higher post-CPB + rVWF compared to pre-CPB (Est=173.32, p=0.044). ConclusionsIn pediatric CHD patients, microfluidic testing demonstrated that platelet thrombus area increased slightly after CPB, while platelet contractile force did not change. In vitro addition of rVWF further increased thrombus area, suggesting augmentation of primary hemostasis. Microfluidic assessment of platelet contractile force and thrombus area in pediatric CHD patients appears feasible and can demonstrate changes after CPB. Further studies are needed to determine its accuracy and clinical utility, as well as normal values for pediatric patients.

Food Loss at Retail Stores in Lebanon: A Pilot Assessment Study

Food Loss at Retail Stores in Lebanon: A Pilot Assessment Study

Feasibility of a Mobile Health Intervention for Providing a Continuum of HIV Services for MSM: Pilot Study of the WeTest Program in 3 Cities in China.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) in China have a high risk for HIV infection but experience suboptimal rates of HIV testing and service engagement due to various social and structural barriers. We developed a mobile health (mHealth) intervention entitled "WeTest-Plus" (WeTest+) as a user-centered "one-stop service" approach for delivering access to comprehensive information about HIV risk, HIV self-testing, behavioral and biomedical prevention, confirmatory testing, treatment, and care. The goal of the current study was to investigate the feasibility of WeTest+ to provide continuous HIV services to high-risk MSM. Participants completed a 3-week pilot test of WeTest+ to examine acceptability, feasibility, and recommendations for improvement. Participants completed a structured online questionnaire and qualitative exit interviews facilitated by project staff. "Click-through" rates were assessed to examine engagement with online content. 28 participants were included, and the average age was 27.6 years (standard deviation = 6.8). Almost all participants (96.4%) remained engaged with the WeTest+ program over a 3-week observational period. The majority (92.9%) self-administered the HIV self-test and submitted their test results through the online platform. Overall click-through rates were high (average 67.9%). Participants provided favorable comments about the quality and relevance of the WeTest+ information content, the engaging style of information presentation, and the user-centered features. This pilot assessment of WeTest+ supports the promise of this program for promoting HIV self-testing and linkage to in-person services for MSM in China. Findings underscore the utility of a user-centered approach to mHealth program design.

Preventative intervention home visitation programme for mothers with fussy infants: a mixed methods, pilot assessment of maternal self-efficacy, mental health, infant-bonding, and programme experiences

ABSTRACT This study assessed a preventive intervention home visiting programme (Fussy Baby Network (FBN)) designed to support mothers struggling with infant crying, sleeping, or feeding concerns. Mothers were referred to the programme through local health- and social service providers and were eligible to participate in the study if they were age 18 or older and had a child ≤12 months of age. A mixed methods design quantitatively assessed pre- to post-test changes in maternal mental health, parenting confidence, and parent-infant bonding and qualitatively explored mothers’ experiences of the programme. Statistically significant differences were found with effect sizes (Cohen's D) as follows: improved parenting self-efficacy (0.72) and confidence (0.44); reduced maternal anxiety (0.50), stress (0.44), mother-infant bonding difficulties (0.42), and depression (0.35). Qualitative findings revealed that Empathic Inquiry and Capacity Building, two core processes of the FBN model, emerged as the most salient themes of the programme.

Dolutegravir based therapy showed CD4+ T cell count recovery and viral load suppression among ART naïve people living with HIV AIDS: a pilot evaluation

Recently, dolutegravir (DTG)-based combined therapy, a more effective and safer first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART), has been recommended by the World Health Organization for the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) since July 2018. However, its effectiveness in CD4+ T-cells count recovery and viral load suppression has not been studied yet in Ethiopia, where HIV is endemic. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a pilot assessment on the effect of DTG-based therapy on CD4+ T-cell count and viral load count among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Ethiopia. A longitudinal prospective cohort study was conducted from July 2020 to February 2021. 109 PLWH who are ART naive but plan to initiate DTG-based therapy were recruited. HIV viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) copies were determined using polymerase chain reaction. To compute the difference in viral load and CD4+ T-cell counts between the baseline, 3rd, and 6th months, a Friedman test was used. The study included 109 PLWH who had never received antiretroviral medication. Participants taking DTG-based treatment showed significantly decreasing median (IQR) values of viral load count (copies/mL) from 446,812 (237649.5–732994.5) at baseline to 34 (23.5–46) at 3 months and 0.0 (0–19) at 6 months of treatment follow-up. Although the treatment increases the proportion of participants with HIV-1 RNA 50 copies/mL from 0 (0% at baseline) to 87 (79.8%) and 100 (91.7%) at the 3rd and 6th months of treatment, respectively, On the other hand, the CD4+ T-cell count increased significantly during treatment: median (IQR): 209 (81.5–417.5) versus 291 (132–522) versus 378 (181–632.5) cells/L at baseline, the 3rd and 6th months of the treatment follow-up period, respectively. We found dolutegravir-based therapy was a promising option with high virological suppression rates and CD4+ T-cell count recovery, demonstrating a restoration of cellular immunity. Moreover, Viral load suppression rates were high after the initiation of the treatment. We recommend further research should be conducted with a larger number of participants to acquire greater awareness of the treatment outcomes.

Hazardous and Toxic Material Decontamination Facility Training in Virtual Reality

Patient decontamination is the act of removing or neutralising hazardous substances from an affected individual. To ensure adequate emergency preparedness, regulations require hospitals to train personnel in decontamination procedures regularly. To supplement in-person training, a virtual reality (VR) system is being developed for the training of hospital staff members in the mass decontamination of hazardous and toxic materials (HAZMAT) and/or radioactively contaminated casualties. As a demonstration of the concept, a primary VR prototype is designed to help users familiarize themselves with a chemical scanner tool, intended for examining victims for residual chemical hazards. This initial prototype showcases the benefits of using VR to create training simulations, complementing existing decontamination training methods in a secure and cost-effective manner. The proposed approach features a modularized user-centric design, a novel scanning simulation, and a high-realism virtual environment and workflow to enhance training effectiveness. A pilot user study and assessment suggest that new users were able to achieve a significant level of competency with VR, compared to users who underwent traditional training.

Building bridges with the Pennsylvania State Police: A pilot assessment of a Law Enforcement Community Outreach Program

Abstract In 2021, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) created and implemented the Building Bridges Community Outreach Program (BBCOP), which is a positive law enforcement-initiated non-enforcement contact intervention designed to educate the public and improve community relations. To date, there have been no empirical assessments of the influence that this program has had on public perceptions of police. The current study attempts to fill this gap in the literature by offering an assessment of BBCOP participants’ perceptions of the program, and their perceptions of police before and after participating in the program. Specifically, the current study uses a mixed-method analysis of matched (i.e. pre- and post-intervention) survey data (n = 106) collected from student participants of initial iterations of the PSP BBCOP intervention occurring between the end of January 2023 and the end of January 2024. Findings reveal that BBCOP participants overwhelmingly reported positive sentiments about their experiences with the program. Further, statistical analyses revealed significant improvements in perceptions of law enforcement effectiveness, procedural justice, and legitimacy following participation in the program. Implications based on these findings are discussed within.

The development of a conceptual maritime training and assessment framework for Malaysian maritime pilots using the knowledge, skills, and abilities approach

ABSTRACT The Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) Theory explains that knowledge develops one’s skills, leading to improved abilities. This study hypothesised that the KSA approach could be applied to developing a conceptual training and assessment framework for Malaysian maritime pilots as it could assist in improving the competency of future trainee pilots. This framework’s development was commenced by obtaining maritime pilot training and assessment modules from competent pilotage authorities (CPAs) in Malaysia. The modules were then collated, and items were identified as factors and subfactors of knowledge, skills, and abilities. The Factors, Filtering, and Filtered Elements (FFF) model was utilised to measure maritime KSAs for data collection and filtration purposes. The data collected were then analysed utilising principal component analysis (PCA) and the Pearson correlation test, which involves using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS). In summary, the data obtained from this study’s respondents successfully proved that the KSA approach can be applied to the creation of a maritime pilot training and assessment framework.