Pilot Search Research Articles

Systematic review and network meta-analysis of non-invasive respiratory support in paediatric patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure: a protocol

IntroductionAcute hypoxic respiratory failure (AHRF) is one of the most common causes of admission to paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) around the world, posing a serious health concern for the...

Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis Seafarer Supply and Demand

This study conducts a systematic assessment of the literature and does a bibliometric analysis to investigate the fluctuations in the availability and need for seafarers in the marine sector. The study examines a diverse selection of publications from several subfields within the seafarer workforce domain, analysing significant patterns, difficulties, and opportunities for enhancement. The study provides insights into the scholarly landscape of seafarer workforce research by analyzing highly cited articles, prolific authors, and influential journals. The findings highlight the significant impact of technological advancements, demographic shifts, regulatory changes, and economic factors on seafarer supply and demand dynamics. The systematic review and bibliometric analysis offer valuable information for policymakers, industry stakeholders, researchers, and academicians seeking to understand and address the complexities of the seafarer workforce. The initial review of articles obtained from the pilot search informed the formulation of research questions to understand the current state, trends, impactful studies, influential authors, and areas for future exploration within the seafarer workforce literature. Keywords related to seafarers and workforce were identified and refined through a three-step process to create an optimal set of search terms. This systematic literature review has provided valuable insights into various aspects of the seafarer workforce, including trends, challenges, and potential areas for future research. By employing a rigorous methodology and analyzing relevant literature, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse on seafarer supply and demand dynamics, offering a foundation for informed decision-making and further exploration in this field.

A Pilot Search for Gravitational Self-Lensing Binaries with the Zwicky Transient Facility

Binary systems containing a compact object may exhibit periodic brightening episodes due to gravitational lensing as the compact object transits the companion star. Such “self-lensing” signatures have been detected before for white dwarf binaries. We attempt to use these signatures to identify detached stellar-mass neutron star and black hole binaries using data from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF). We present a systematic search for self-lensing signals in Galactic binaries from a subset of high-cadence ZTF data taken in 2018. We identify 12 plausible candidates from the search, although because each candidate is observed to only brighten once, other origins such as stellar flares are more likely. We discuss prospects for more comprehensive future searches of the ZTF data.

The impact of mobile health interventions on service users’ health outcomes and the role of health professions: a systematic review of systematic reviews—protocol

BackgroundMobile health tools have gained prominence in global health care in recent years. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have demonstrated their impact on managing healthcare service users’ health. A pilot search revealed many systematic reviews on the effectiveness of mobile health tools on service users’ health outcomes. However, how the role of healthcare professionals in promoting the adoption of mobile health may lead to improved outcomes needs to be clarified. Therefore, this systematic review aims to synthesise existing systematic reviews that examine both the impact of mobile health interventions on service users’ outcomes and the role of healthcare professionals in facilitating the adoption of mobile health solutions.MethodsFive electronic databases will be searched: EMBASE, CINHAL Plus, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for systematic reviews exploring the impact of mobile health interventions on service users’ outcomes and the role of healthcare professionals in facilitating the adoption of mobile health solutions. Systematic reviews published in English dated from January 2015 to June 2024 will be included. Screening and selection of the reviews against inclusion and exclusion criteria will be performed by three independent reviewers, as well as data extraction and quality assessment.DiscussionCurrent systematic reviews in mHealth have primarily focused on assessing the effectiveness of mHealth interventions for managing a range of conditions. While these reviews provide valuable input into the outcomes for mHealth, more is needed to know about the impact of the involvement of health professions on service users’ outcomes when adopting mHealth. This systematic review of systematic reviews aims to bridge this critical gap in the literature by critically appraising and synthesising the evidence of mHealth interventions’ impact on service user outcomes and the level of involvement of health professionals.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD 42023414435.

Diş Çürüklerinde Yapay Zeka Kullanımının Bibliyometrik Analizi

Background: The aim of this study is to examine the development trends and dynamics of research on the use of artificial intelligence in dental caries diagnosis, to identify the strengths and limitations of the existing literature, and to guide future research. Methods: A literature search was conducted using the Web of Science database, covering articles published before 3 June 2024. Pilot searches were conducted and 883 studies were reached. After the specified scanning and filtering processes, the study was carried out on 270 publications. In the bibliometric analysis, the Biblioshiny R package as well as the features of Web of Science and VOSviewer software were used for visualizations. Microsoft Excel was used to tabulate the data. Results: There is a general increase in the number of articles published each year. A total of 3081 citations were made to publications on the use of artificial intelligence in cariology. The average number of citations per article was found to be 11.41, and the H index was 29. The most cited country was Germany (581 citations), and the most influential author was Falk Schwendicke. On the basis of institutions, the highest contribution was made by Charite University Medicine Berlin (19 articles, 475 citations). Conclusion: Since 2008, and particularly since 2018, the utilisation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the investigation of dental caries and oral and dental diseases has garnered increasing interest. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be said to be a groundbreaking discovery that will be increasingly applied in various branches of dentistry.

Evidence-Based Social Sciences and Practices: A Scoping Review

Introduction: The evidence-based medicine (EBM) was introduced in the 1990s, paving the way for the new approaches to science methodology and research evidence that changed medicine-related practices. Following the EBM, social sciences ranging from education to public governance and policymaking entered a new stage of knowledge production and dissemination. Each evidence-based social science field produces its own evidence and evidence synthesis laying the foundation for efficient social practices. Pilot searches failed to bring complex and complete evidence-based methodology for social sciences. Purpose: This scoping review aims to identify the scope of the evidence-based social sciences and practices as an emerging field. Method: The review adhered to the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews, and the PPC framework. The eligibility criteria include problem (population), concept, context, language, time period, types of sources, geographical location, databases, areas of research. The searches to identify relevant publications entail searches in the Scopus database. The studies were identified and selected by screening titles, abstracts and full texts, totalling 35 documents. Results: The results cover search and selection outcomes; a bibliometric analysis, the breakdown of the publications among the four thematic clusters; the findings relating to evidence-based medicine and practice methodology applicable to social sciences; the analysis of the research area of evidence-based social sciences and practices; the social science practices by sectors. Much of the EBM methodology was directly borrowed by social sciences. Though, the major controversy was found in the hierarchy and levels of evidence as social sciences are subject to human choices. Randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews were analysed in the context of social sciences. The most elaborated and fast developing evidence-based areas in social sciences contained evidence-based education and evidence-based policymaking, with systems of governmental agencies and institutions introducing these evidence-based practices. Сonclusion. The review attained the objective and gave answers to the research questions. Only few studies were published to comprehensively address the emerging field of evidence-based social sciences and practices. Fragmentated sub-fields are covered unevenly, with many mythological divergences and disputed issues, including the quality of evidence, their weight and hierarchy, types of research.

First Extragalactic Detection of Thermal Hydroxyl (OH) 18 cm Emission in M31 Reveals Abundant CO-faint Molecular Gas

The most abundant interstellar molecule, molecular hydrogen (H2), is practically invisible in cold molecular clouds. Astronomers typically use carbon monoxide (CO) to trace the bulk distribution and mass of H2 in our galaxy and many others. CO observations alone fail to trace a significant component of molecular gas known as “CO-dark” molecular gas, which can be probed with molecules such as OH and CH. We present an extremely sensitive pilot search for the 18 cm hydroxyl (OH) lines in the Andromeda galaxy (M31) with the 100 m Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope. We successfully detected the 1665 and 1667 MHz OH lines in faint emission. The 1665/1667 MHz line ratio displays the characteristic 5:9 ratio predicted under conditions of local thermodynamic equilibrium. To our knowledge, this is the first detection of nonmaser 18 cm OH emission in another galaxy. We compare our OH and H i observations with archival CO (1–0) observations. Our OH detection position overlaps with the previously discovered Arp Outer Arm in CO. Our best estimates show that the amount of H2 traced by OH is 100%–140% higher than the amount traced by CO in this sight line. The amount of dark molecular gas implied by dust data supports this conclusion. We conclude that the 18 cm OH lines hold promise as a valuable tool for mapping of the “CO-dark” and “CO-faint” molecular gas phase in nearby galaxies, especially with upcoming multibeam, phased-array feed receivers on radio telescopes, which will allow for drastically improved mapping speeds of faint signals.

Understanding the Dynamics of Inflammatory Cytokines in Endodontic Diagnosis: A Systematic Review.

The primary aim of this literature review is to delineate the key inflammatory cytokines involved in the pathophysiology of pulp inflammation. By elucidating the roles of these cytokines, a deeper comprehension of the distinct stages of inflamed pulp can be attained, thereby facilitating more accurate diagnostic strategies in endodontics. The PRISMA statement and Cochrane handbook were used for the search strategy. The keywords were created based on the review question using the PICO framework. The relevant studies were meticulously assessed according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria for this systematic review. A rigorous quality checklist was implemented to evaluate each included study, ensuring scrutiny for both quality and risk-of-bias assessments. The initial pilot search conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and WoS databases yielded 9 pertinent articles. Within these articles, multiple cytokines were identified and discussed as potential candidates for use in endodontic diagnosis, notably including IL-8, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-2. These cytokines have been highlighted due to their significant roles in the inflammatory processes associated with pulp pathology. The identification of specific inflammatory cytokines holds promise for enhancing endodontic diagnostic procedures and exploring diverse treatment modalities. However, the current body of research in this area remains limited. Further comprehensive studies are warranted to fully elucidate the potential of cytokines in refining diagnostic techniques in endodontics.

Reliable Pilot Search Method for Enhancing BER Performance in Underwater Acoustic OFDM Systems with MMSE Estimator

Reliable Pilot Search Method for Enhancing BER Performance in Underwater Acoustic OFDM Systems with MMSE Estimator

DESIGNING OF NOISE POLLUTION MEASURES FOR A MILITARY AIRFIELD

This article discusses the possibilities of reducing noise pollution in the vicinity of a selected airport, with an emphasis on practical measures. The proposed procedures, which are routinely employed at commercial airports, would be ineffective or financially unsustainable under the circumstances of the military airports. The objective at military airports is not to maximise capacity, as at civil airports, where the desire to increase capacity is primarily related to profit. The primary objective for military airports is to perform defined tasks, which may include pilot training, search and rescue exercises and combat training. The main measures proposed to reduce noise pollution in the vicinity of the villages are changes in departure and arrival routes, the splitting of night operations into two parts and the introduction of a new article in the AIP and Airport Regulations prohibiting air operations over and in close proximity to the villages nearby. Finally, it is stressed that a significant reduction in noise will only be possible with the support of changes in legislation or above-standard financial investment by the airport operator.

Inflammatory biomarker changes in healthy adults secondary to electronic cigarette use: A scoping review.

There has been a global increase in the use of electronic cigarettes (EC). However, to our knowledge, no review has summarized or categorized changes in inflammatory biomarkers after EC use in the extant literature. To evaluate changes in general, cardiopulmonary, and oxidative stress-related inflammatory biomarkers in healthy adults who use ECs. A scoping review was conducted according to the Arksey and O'Malley framework. PubMed and MEDLINE (Ovid) databases were used for our search. After initial pilot searches and discussions, we performed a final search with medical subject headingsand plain language terms related to inflammation, biomarkers, ECs, and adult humans. All full-text articles, gray literature, and primary studies dating from the inception of the searched databases to the present were included. Studies of human participants with known confounding medical histories were excluded. Thirty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. After short-term (<1 month) use, ECs containing nicotine moderately increased cardiovascular (CV) and oxidative stress markers of inflammation. Of all reported results, 50% of CV biomarkers were increased, and 64% of oxidative stress markers were increased. After long-term (>1 month) use, ECs containing nicotine produced mixed results. Two commonly measured biomarkers in this group, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), were elevated in 75% and 60% of measured instances, respectively. The results of studies evaluated in our scoping review suggested that short-term use of nicotine-containing ECs may result in increased CV and oxidative stress inflammation, contributing to potential CV or neurologic disease development. The results of studies evaluated in our scoping review also suggested that long-term use of nicotine-containing ECs resulted in no significant changes in general inflammatory biomarker levels. A rigorous systematic review and meta-analysis is necessary to corroborate our findings and to determine the effect of long-term EC use on MMP-9 and IL-6 levels.

Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU): A pilot search for diffuse, non-thermal radio emission in galaxy clusters with the Australian SKA Pathfinder

Abstract Clusters of galaxies have been found to host Mpc-scale diffuse, non-thermal radio emission in the form of central radio halos and peripheral relics. Turbulence and shock-related processes in the intra-cluster medium are generally considered responsible for the emission, though details of these processes are still not clear. The low surface brightness makes detection of the emission a challenge, but with recent surveys with high-sensitivity radio telescopes we are beginning to build large samples of these sources. The Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) is a Southern Sky survey being performed by the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) over the next few years and is well-suited to detect and characterise such emission. To assess prospects of the full survey, we have performed a pilot search of diffuse sources in 71 clusters from the Planck Sunyaev–Zeldovich (SZ) cluster catalogue (PSZ2) found in archival ASKAP observations. After re-imaging the archival data and performing both (u, v)-plane and image-plane angular scale filtering, we detect 21 radio halos (12 for the first time, excluding an additional six candidates), 11 relics (in seven clusters, and six for the first time, excluding a further five candidate relics), along with 12 other, unclassified diffuse radio sources. From these detections, we predict the full EMU survey will uncover up to $\approx 254$ radio halos and $\approx 85$ radio relics in the 858 PSZ2 clusters that will be covered by EMU. The percentage of clusters found to host diffuse emission in this work is similar to the number reported in recent cluster surveys with the LOw Frequency ARray (LOFAR) Two-metre Sky Survey [Botteon, et al. 2022a, A&amp;A, 660, A78], suggesting EMU will complement similar searches being performed in the Northern Sky and provide us with statistically significant samples of halos and relics at the completion of the full survey. This work presents the first step towards large samples of the diffuse radio sources in Southern Sky clusters with ASKAP and eventually the SKA.

VVV-WIT-12 and Its Fashionable Nebula: A 4 yr Long-period Young Stellar Object with a Light Echo?

We report the serendipitous discovery of VVV-WIT-12, an unusual variable source that seems to induce variability in its surrounding nebula. The source belongs to the rare objects that we call WITs (short for What Is This?) discovered within the VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) survey. VVV-WIT-12 was discovered during a pilot search for light echoes from distant supernovae in the Milky Way using the near-IR images of the VVV survey. This source has an extremely red spectral energy distribution, consistent with a very reddened (A V ∼ 100 mag) long-period variable star (P ∼ 1525 days). Furthermore, it is enshrouded in a nebula that changes brightness and color with time, apparently in sync with the central source variations. The near-IR light curve and complementary follow-up spectroscopy observations are consistent with a variable young stellar object illuminating its surrounding nebula. In this case the source periodic variation along the cycles produces an unprecedented light echo in the different regions of the nebula.

Treatment priorities and regret in older adults with head and neck cancer: A systematic review.

The majority of head and neck cancer (HNC) diagnoses are seen in people aged 70 and older; these numbers are set to increase. Greater understanding of treatment needs of older patients with HNC is essential. These older patients often have co-existing health conditions, are prone to frailty and may not prioritise survival when considering treatment options. This systematic review examines the current research with regard to priorities and factors influencing treatment regret in older people with HNC. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they (i) reported data from patients with a mean age of 65 years or older who had a confirmed diagnosis of HNC and had been treated using surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy with either palliative or curative intent, (ii) considered patient's priorities or preferences or examined treatment regret as one of the primary outcomes of the study (iii) were published in English. Pilot search identified n = 7222 articles; however, following screening, only four papers met the inclusion criteria. Narrative synthesis was indicated to analyse quantitative and qualitative evidence in parallel, as meta-analyses were not possible. There is a paucity in the literature examining older adults with HNC. There is an indication that older adults prioritise maintaining independence when making treatment decisions and treatment regret is seen in those with high levels of depression with level of frailty also a contributing factor. Clinicians should consider patient's social circumstances, premorbid status and priorities in maintaining independence and managing symptoms when making treatment decisions in this cohort.

Suitable pilot search method for channel estimation in underwater acoustic OFDM systems

The underwater environment poses challenges to the Underwater Acoustic OFDM (UWA-OFDM) system, causing the tendency of lacking pilots to recover the channel impulse response (CIR). Our previous research (pilot enrichment estimator) supplemented potential pilots based on the distance to the nearest constellation point below a fixed threshold T. However, this does not guarantee that the extracted pilots have sufficiently good quality. Therefore, this article presents a suitable pilot search (SPS) method with the flexible threshold T and second minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimation to improve channel estimation effectiveness in UWA-OFDM systems. Our approach is compared to the MMSE and PE methods across various criteria, such as pilot spacing and different modulators. The experiments demonstrate that the SPS estimator performs better than the MMSE and PE techniques regarding bit error rate (BER).

Suitability of memory aids and strategies for people with posterior cortical atrophy: protocol for a scoping review

BackgroundPosterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a neurodegenerative syndrome characterised by progressive visuospatial and visuoperceptual impairment. Recent research shows that memory impairment can also occur as an early symptom of the condition and that the impairment can be ameliorated by providing support in the memory recall phase, for example, by presenting a related cue. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is defined by an amnestic syndrome, memory aids and strategies have been used to help support everyday memory, which in turn can have a positive impact on patient and carer outcomes. Similar support for PCA could be achieved by using memory aids and strategies which help to encode and/or retrieve information, yet there are currently no guidelines for memory strategies that may be suitable in PCA. Due to the central visual disorder that defines PCA, careful consideration is needed when making recommendations.MethodsA scoping review will be conducted of published studies that have assessed memory aids and strategies in people with AD and related dementias where memory is considered a core or supplementary feature, with the aim of distinguishing those that may be suitable or adaptable for PCA. The systematic search will include the electronic databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL, using search terms for dementia and memory aids and strategies identified in pilot searches. Findings will be mapped and described based on methods used, population, clinical data and memory aids and strategies identified.DiscussionThe scoping review will give an overview of the memory aids and strategies used in people with AD and related dementias and identify characteristics, modality and pragmatics to evaluate their suitability and adaptability for a PCA population. Tailored memory support strategies for people living with PCA could improve memory performance, with knock-on positive effects on patient and carer outcomes.

Exploring the intersection of hermeneutics and implementation: a scoping review

BackgroundAn enduring challenge remains about how to effectively implement programs, services, or practices. Too often, implementation does not achieve its intended effectiveness, fidelity, and sustainability, even when frameworks or theories determine implementation strategies and actions. A different approach is needed. This scoping review joined two markedly different bodies of literature: implementation and hermeneutics. Implementation is usually depicted as focused, direct, and somewhat linear, while hermeneutics attends to the messiness of everyday experience and human interaction. Both, however, are concerned with practical solutions to real-life problems. The purpose of the scoping review was to summarize existing knowledge on how a hermeneutic approach has informed the process of implementing health programs, services, or practices.MethodsWe completed a scoping review by taking a Gadamerian hermeneutic approach to the JBI scoping review method. Following a pilot search, we searched eight health-related electronic databases using broadly stated terms such as implementation and hermeneutics. A diverse research team that included a patient and healthcare leader, working in pairs, independently screened titles/abstracts and full-text articles. Through the use of inclusion criteria and full-team dialogue, we selected the final articles and identified their characteristics, hermeneutic features, and implementation components.ResultsElectronic searches resulted in 2871 unique studies. After full-text screening, we retained six articles that addressed both hermeneutics and implementing a program, service, or practice. The studies varied widely in location, topic, implementation strategies, and hermeneutic approach. All addressed assumptions underpinning implementation, the human dimensions of implementing, power differentials, and knowledge creation during implementation. All studies addressed issues foundational to implementing such as cross-cultural communication and surfacing and addressing tensions during processes of change. The studies showed how creating conceptual knowledge was a precursor to concrete, instrumental knowledge for action and behavioral change. Finally, each study demonstrated how the hermeneutic process of the fusion of horizons created new understandings needed for implementation.ConclusionsHermeneutics and implementation have rarely been combined. The studies reveal important features that can contribute to implementation success. Implementers and implementation research may benefit from understanding, articulating, and communicating hermeneutic approaches that foster the relational and contextual foundations necessary for successful implementation.Trial registrationThe protocol was registered at the Centre for Open Science on September 10, 2019.MacLeod M, Snadden D, McCaffrey G, Zimmer L, Wilson E, Graham I, et al. A hermeneutic approach to advancing implementation science: a scoping review protocol 2019. Accessed at osf.io/eac37.

Pilot Search for Axion-Like Particles by a Three-Beam Stimulated Resonant Photon Collider with Short Pulse Lasers

Toward the systematic search for axion-like particles in the eV mass range, we proposed the concept of a stimulated resonant photon collider by focusing three short pulse lasers into a vacuum. In order to realize such a collider, we have performed a proof-of-principle experiment with a set of large incident angles between three beams to overcome the expected difficulty to ensure the space–time overlap between short pulse lasers and also established a method to evaluate the bias on the polarization states, which is useful for a future variable–incident–angle collision system. In this paper, we present a result from the pilot search with the developed system and the method. The search result was consistent with null. We thus have set the upper limit on the minimum ALP-photon coupling down to 1.5×10−4 GeV−1 at the ALP mass of 1.53 eV with a confidence level of 95%.

Efficacy and safety of pharmacological interventions for managing sickle cell disease in children and adolescents: protocol for a systematic review with network meta-analysis

IntroductionSickle cell disease (SCD), an inherited haemoglobinopathy, has important impact on morbidity and mortality, especially in paediatrics. Previous systematic reviews are limited to adult patients or focused only on few...

The globular cluster system of the nearest Seyfert II galaxy Circinus

Context. The globular cluster (GC) system of Circinus galaxy has not been probed previously partly because of the location of the galaxy at −3.8° Galactic latitude, which suffers severely from interstellar extinction, stellar crowding, and Galactic foreground contamination. However, the deep near-infrared (NIR) photometry by the VISTA Variables in the Via Láctea Extended Survey (VVVX) in combination with the precise astrometry of Gaia EDR3 allow us to map GCs in this region. Aims. Our long-term goal is to study and characterise the distributions of GCs and ultra-compact dwarfs in Circinus galaxy, which is the nearest Seyfert II galaxy. Here we conduct the first pilot search for GCs in this galaxy. Methods. We used NIR VVVX photometry in combination with Gaia EDR3 astrometric features, such as astrometric excess noise and the ratio of the sum of the blue photometer (BP) and red photometer (RP) to the broad G passband (BRexcess), to build the first homogeneous catalogue of GCs in Circinus galaxy. A robust combination of selection criteria allows us to effectively clean interlopers from our sample. Results We report the detection of ∼70 GC candidates in this galaxy at a 3σ confidence level. They show a bimodal colour distribution with the blue peak at (G − Ks)0 = 0.985±0.127 mag with a dispersion of 0.211±0.091 mag and the red peak at (G − Ks)0 = 1.625±0.177 mag with a dispersion of 0.482±0.114 mag. A GC specific frequency (S​N) of 1.3±0.2 was derived for the galaxy, and we estimated a total population of 120±40 GCs. Based on the projected radial distribution it appears that Circinus has a different distribution of GC candidates than MW and M 31. Conclusions. We demonstrate that Circinus galaxy hosts a sizeable number of cluster candidates. This result is the first leap towards understanding the evolution of old stellar clusters in this galaxy.