Real World Research Articles

How Playing with Virtual Dirt Got Me a Biology Degree

Last summer I spent 20 hours a week crafting in the void that is virtual pottery for research. I signed up for this project merely because it sounded like the most fun. I did not foresee that the skills I learned would aid my journey in getting my biology degree. The privilege of participating in undergraduate research at Augusta University has completely rewired the way I think innovatively, ask questions, and build relationships. Which have yielded skills and resources that contributed to my academic success in getting my degree, and also developed me as a young adult in the real world.

How Playing with Virtual Dirt Got Me a Biology Degree

Last summer I spent 20 hours a week crafting in the void that is virtual pottery for research. I signed up for this project merely because it sounded like the most fun. I did not foresee that the skills I learned would aid my journey in getting my biology degree. The privilege of participating in undergraduate research at Augusta University has completely rewired the way I think innovatively, ask questions, and build relationships. Which have yielded skills and resources that contributed to my academic success in getting my degree, and also developed me as a young adult in the real world.

Statistical Properties of SIS Processes with Heterogeneous Nodal Recovery Rates in Networks

The modeling and analysis of epidemic processes in networks have attracted much attention over the past few decades. A major underlying assumption is that the recovery process and infection process are homogeneous, allowing the associated theoretical studies to be conducted in a convenient manner. However, the recovery and infection processes usually exhibit heterogeneous rates in the real world, which makes it difficult to characterize the general relations between the dynamics and the underlying network structure. In this work, we focus on the susceptible–infected–susceptible (SIS) epidemic process with heterogeneous recovery rates in a finite-size complete graph. Specifically, we study the metastable-state statistical properties of SIS epidemic dynamics with two different nodal recovery rates in complete graphs. We propose approximate solutions to the metastable-state expectation and the variance in the number of infected nodes within the framework of the mean-field approximation method. We also derive several upper and lower bounds of the steady-state probability that a node is in the infected state. We verify the proposed approximate solutions of the mean and variance via simulations. This work provides insights into the fluctuations in the statistical properties of epidemic processes with complex dynamical behaviors in networks.

Synthesis and application of WO3/PVA nano composite for antibacterial and thermal insulation

Abstract Insulation of glass material is very important for sustainable environment in this real world without compromising its primary function. The aim of this research is to provide robust solution by synthesis the Nano Tungsten trioxide particles via the chemical precipitation method. Developed WO3 NPs Characterized by using x-ray diffraction for; crystal structure, compound composition, and average crystalline size. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) employed to analyze the shape and dimensions of the WO3 NPs. Explored the potential thermal insulation and antibacterial attributes by coating 1%, 3%, 5% and 7% concentration of synthesized WO3 NPs in polyvinyl alcohol onto a sodium silicate glass substrate (4 × 4 inches; 2 mm thickness) by using 50 μm doctor blade. WO3/PVA solution showed the antibacterial properties measure by agar disc diffusion method on gram positive and negative bacterial culture S. coli and E. bacterial culture and the obtained results after incubation were showing very minor zone of incubation as compare to previous studies. Thermal insulation of coated glass samples were increased with % of WO3 NPs concentration in PVA and validate by significant coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.985).

Strengthening the pain care ecosystem to support equitable, person-centered, high-value musculoskeletal pain care

Abstract Improving health and wellbeing outcomes for people experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain requires collective efforts across multiple levels of a healthcare ecosystem. System-wide barriers to care equity must however be addressed (eg, lack of co-designed services; overuse of low value care/underuse of high value care; inadequate health workforce; inappropriate funding models; inequitable access to medicines and technologies; inadequate research and innovation). In this narrative review, utilizing a systems’ thinking framework, we synthesize novel insights on chronic musculoskeletal pain research contextualized through the lens of this complex, interconnected system, the “pain care ecosystem.” We examine the application of systems strengthening research to build capacity across this ecosystem to support equitable person-centred care and healthy ageing across the lifespan. This dynamic ecosystem is characterized by three interconnected levels. At its centre is the person experiencing chronic musculoskeletal pain (micro-level). This level is connected with health services and health workforce operating to co-design and deliver person-centred care (meso-level), underpinned further upstream by contemporary health and social care systems (macro-level context). We provide emerging evidence for how we, and others, are working towards building ecosystem resilience to support quality musculoskeletal pain care: at the macro-level (eg, informing musculoskeletal policy and health strategy priorities); at the meso-level (eg, service co-design across care settings; health workforce capacity); and downstream, at the micro-level (eg, person-centred care). We outline the mechanisms and methodologies utilized and explain the outcomes, insights and impact of this research, supported by real world examples extending from Australian to global settings.

Advancing Proton Therapy: A Review of Geant4 Simulation for Enhanced Planning and Optimization in Hadron Therapy

Abstract Proton therapy is a cancer treatment method that uses high-energy proton beams to target and destroy cancer cells. In recent years, the use of proton therapy in cancer treatment has increased due to its advantages over traditional radiation methods, such as higher accuracy and reduced damage to healthy tissues. For accurate planning and delivery of proton therapy, advanced software tools are needed to model and simulate the interaction between the proton beam and the patient’s body. One of these tools is the Monte Carlo simulation software called Geant4, which provides accurate modeling of physical processes during radiation therapy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the Geant4 toolbox in proton therapy in the conducted research. This review article searched for published articles between 2002 and 2023 in reputable international databases including Scopus, PubMed, Scholar, Google Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. Geant4 simulations are reliable and accurate and can be used to optimize and evaluate the performance of proton therapy systems. Obtaining some data from experiments carried out in the real world is very effective. This makes it easy to know how close the values obtained from simulations are to the behavior of ions in reality.

Enhancing the global and local robustness of networks: A network motif-based approach

In the real world, both natural and artificial networks, may experience degradation or failure due to faults or external perturbations, which may negatively impact people's lives. Therefore, optimizing network robustness to maintain functionality under such conditions is a crucial research area. With the deepening of network robustness research, more and more studies have found that the local robustness of networks is related to network motifs. Considering the optimization of the robustness based on the global network properties (global robustness) and local robustness of the network, this paper proposes a motif-based edge rewiring algorithm (MBER), which includes the Edge Selection Algorithm, Edge Rewiring Algorithm, Simplified Calculation Algorithm for the Number of Major Network Motifs and Adjusted Nondominated Sorting Algorithm. We optimize four synthetic networks and four real-world networks using MBER and four other optimization algorithms, respectively. The results demonstrate that the MBER algorithm is more effective in enhancing the global and local robustness of networks. Additionally, we analyse the time complexity of MBER and four other optimization algorithms, revealing that the MBER algorithm exhibits the highest time complexity due to its consideration of local robustness. This paper can provide a reference for enhancing the robustness of real-world networks more comprehensively and enriches the research on network robustness enhancement.

Interlanguage impoliteness in criticism by the English learners from Javanese background over social status and distance

The present study analyses the impoliteness of criticism over social status and distance, incorporating the concept of "levels of imposition." Criticism as a fundamental speech act is commonly used by people in the modern era, either in the digital world or the real world. It usually contains impoliteness if it embodies negative behavior, conveying criticism. This study belonged to an interlanguage pragmatics study and used forty participants from English language learners having Javanese backgrounds. It also applied the role play technique to take data to be analyzed using mixed method analysis. The data showed that the criticizer performed various impoliteness strategies in criticism, considering familiar and unfamiliar relationships in different social status levels. They mainly performed bald-on-record impoliteness and adhered to other strategies such as negative, positive, and mock politeness. Besides that, delivering criticism in high intonation was also perceived as a part of impoliteness. Therefore, it suggested conducting another research concerning paralinguistics and impoliteness in various communication contexts.

The ETNA-AF Europe registry: 4-year data of edoxaban use in atrial fibrillation in the Italian real world compared to the European cohort

The prospective, single-arm, observational, phase 4 ETNA-AF Europe study collected real-world data about safety, effectiveness and therapeutic adherence in European patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation newly prescribed with edoxaban and followed up for 4 years. Overall, 13 164 patients were included in the full-analysis set, which means that they had at least one documentation after baseline at 4 years. The current paper reports about the 3329 Italian patients out of the whole European population. In the Italian cohort, median age was 76.0 (69.0-82.0) years, with 57.4% of the patients being ≥75 years old. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was >4 in 586 (18.1%) patients. At baseline, 670 (20.8%) patients were classified as frail by the investigators. Edoxaban 30 mg/day was prescribed to 1013 (31.8%) patients: these were older, with more comorbidities and a lower estimated creatinine clearance compared with those receiving 60 mg/day. All-cause mortality was 4.1%/year and there were very low yearly rates of bleeding and thromboembolic events: major bleeding, 0.9%; intracranial hemorrhage, 0.2%; ischemic stroke, 0.3%; systemic embolism, <0.1%. These events were more frequent in patients ≥75 years or in patients with renal impairment or treated with edoxaban 30 mg/day. Advancing age was not associated with an increased incidence of intracranial bleeding. These findings confirm the favorable long-term safety and effectiveness profile of edoxaban in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients treated in routine clinical care in Italy.

Cost Asymmetry, Commodity Taxes and Antidumping Policies

We examine how the presence of a commodity tax affects the superiority of an antidumping duty and a price undertaking policy under cost asymmetry between the foreign and domestic firms. We obtain several interesting results as follows. First, the domestic welfare under a price undertaking is higher than that under an antidumping duty, if the domestic firm is more efficient than the foreign firm and the normal value is large. Second, the presence of a commodity tax usually leads the domestic government to be more likely to choose an antidumping duty. Third, the presence of a commodity tax leads the foreign firm to prefer a price undertaking to an antidumping duty. The first two results show that the domestic firm’s lower efficiency and the commodity tax can explain why the cases involving adopting a price undertaking are far fewer than those concerned with an antidumping duty in the real world.

Generative AI for Health Technology Assessment: Opportunities, Challenges, and Policy Considerations - an ISPOR Working Group Report

ObjectiveTo provide an introduction to the uses of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and foundation models, including large language models (LLMs), in the field of health technology assessment (HTA). MethodsWe reviewed applications of generative AI in three areas: systematic literature reviews, real world evidence (RWE) and health economic modeling. Results(1) Literature reviews: generative AI has the potential to assist in automating aspects of systematic literature reviews by proposing search terms, screening abstracts, extracting data and generating code for meta-analyses; (2) Real World Evidence (RWE): generative AI can facilitate automating processes and analyze large collections of real-world data (RWD) including unstructured clinical notes and imaging; (3) Health economic modeling: generative AI can aid in the development of health economic models, from conceptualization to validation. Limitations in the use of foundation models and LLMs include challenges surrounding their scientific rigor and reliability, the potential for bias, implications for equity, as well as nontrivial concerns regarding adherence to regulatory and ethical standards, particularly in terms of data privacy and security. Additionally, we survey the current policy landscape and provide suggestions for HTA agencies on responsibly integrating generative AI into their workflows, emphasizing the importance of human oversight and the fast-evolving nature of these tools. ConclusionsWhile generative AI technology holds promise with respect to HTA applications, it is still undergoing rapid developments and improvements. Continued careful evaluation of their applications to HTA is required. Both developers and users of research incorporating these tools, should familiarize themselves with their current capabilities and limitations.

Bridging Real and Virtual: An Ecological Approach to Prevent Cyberviolence Against Women

ABSTRACTWomen experience gender violence more than men, in the digital world as well as offline. To understand and prevent this phenomenon, we must consider the continuum between the virtual and the real world and highlight that cyberviolence and offline violence follow the same patterns. Therefore, to comprehend cyberviolence against women, the present study aimed to examine the feelings and emotions of those who have had direct and indirect experiences with it. The research involved 43 young Italians, aged 20–35 and used a narrative approach with a stimulus composed of six questions. The textual material was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and four main themes emerged: Emotional experiences of cyberviolence; the amplification of cyberviolence in the offline world; the role of bystanders; and actions to prevent cyberviolence. The results highlighted the importance of approaching cyberviolence against women from a holistic and multidimensional perspective through an ecological approach that integrates different levels of action: collective, organisational, interpersonal and individual. Cyberviolence against women entails interventions that are complex and multi‐focused on all those who inhabit the virtual dimension, as well as the offline dimension, where the consequences of online violence become evident.

Real world effectiveness of oral semaglutide: Focus on patients with type 2 diabetes older than 75 years

AimData on the efficacy of oral semaglutide (OS) in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes are still lacking. This study evaluates the effectiveness of OS in a real world setting with a large ≥75 year old population. MethodsThis study includes all type 2 diabetic patients who started OS between October 2021 and December 2023 in seven diabetes centers. Data were collected at baseline, 6 (T6) and 12 (T12) months. Effectiveness measures were assessed on the total sample and by patient age (<65, 65–75, >75 years). ResultsOverall 1824 patients started OS, of those 18.7 % were over 75 years (>75 yr). OS resulted in a significant reduction in rate of patients using sulphonylureas, rapid and basal insulin therapy, HbA1c reduced by 0.87 % at T6 and at T12 (both p < 0.0001), body weight by 2.78 Kg (p < 0.0001) at T6 and 3.89 Kg (p < 0.0001) at T12. Similarly, >75 yr showed HbA1c reduction at T6 (p < 0.0001) and T12 (p = 0.0003), body weight significantly reduced (p for interaction 0.005) both at T6 (−1.57 Kg; p = 0.0003) and T12 (−2.74 Kg; p < 0.0001). ConclusionIn our study, OS results efficacy in non-elderly and elderly patients, making it an effective treatment option also for very elderly type 2 diabetic patients.

Exploring the Effect of Viewing Attributes of Mobile AR Interfaces on Remote Collaborative and Competitive Tasks.

Mobile devices have the potential to facilitate remote tasks through Augmented Reality (AR) solutions by integrating digital information into the real world. Although prior studies have explored Mobile Augmented Reality (MAR) for co-located collaboration, none have investigated the impact of various viewing attributes that can influence remote task performance, such as target object viewing angles, synchronization styles, or having a secondary small screen showing other users current view in the MAR environment. In this paper, we explore five techniques considering these attributes, specifically designed for two modes of remote tasks: collaborative and competitive. We conducted a user study employing various combinations of those attributes for both tasks. In both instances, results indicate users' optimal performance and preference for the technique that allows asynchronous viewing of object manipulations on the small screen. Overall, this paper contributes novel techniques for remote tasks in MAR, addressing aspects such as viewing angle and synchronization in object manipulation alongside secondary small-screen interfaces. Additionally, it presents the results of a user study evaluating the effectiveness, usability, and user preference of these techniques in remote settings and offers a set of recommendations for designing and implementing MAR solutions to enhance remote activities.

P275 A real world study (LADDER) of characteristics, treatment patterns and clinical outcomes among high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients - preliminary results

P275 A real world study (LADDER) of characteristics, treatment patterns and clinical outcomes among high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients - preliminary results

Electrochemical self-doping in intrinsically ionic, thermally activated delayed fluorescence materials enables high-performance light-emitting electrochemical cells

Intrinsically ionic, thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials are promising active materials for solid-state light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs), but the origin for their superior device performances has remained elusive and how to further boost their device performances toward real world applications has remained an open question. Here, three TADF materials containing the same TADF unit have been prepared, which include a neutral one (R), an ionic one with an imidazolium cation being anchored to the acceptor through an alkyl chain (E1), and an intrinsically ionic one with an imidazolium cation being directly anchored to the acceptor (E2). By comparison between R, E1 and E2, it is revealed that n-type electrochemical self-doping occurs in E2 upon electron-injection onto its acceptor in operating LECs, due to in-situ formed, closely bound [electron-imidazolium cation] pair, which significantly enhances the device performance. By enhancing the chemical stability of the material and centering the carrier recombination zone in the active layer, the green LECs afford peak brightness up to 1461cd/m−2, external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) up to 9.1 %, and half-lifetimes up to 371h at constant current of 50 A/m−2. Peak brightness/EQE/half-lifetime at 322 cd/m−2/10.1 %/∼1800 h has further been achieved at constant current of 10 A/m−2. These LECs represent the most efficient, bright, and stable TADF LECs reported so far. The work clarifies the great advantage and huge potential of intrinsically ionic TADF materials, with unique electrochemical self-doping capacity, for fabricating efficient, bright and stable light-emitting devices.

Senescence, change, and competition: When the desire to pick one model harms our understanding

The question of why we age is a fundamental one. It is about who we are, and it also might have critical practical aspects as we try to find ways to age slower. Or to not age at all. Different reasons point at distinct strategies for the research of anti-ageing drugs. While the main reason why biological systems work as they do is evolution, for quite a while, it was believed that aging required another explanation. Aging seems to harm individuals so much that even if it has group benefits, those benefits were unlikely to be enough. That has led many scientists to propose non-evolutionary explanations as to why we age. But those theories seem to fail at explaining all the data on how species age. Here, I will show that the insistence of finding the one idea that explains it all might be at the root of the difficulty of getting a full picture. By exploring an evolutionary model of aging where locality and temporal changes are fundamental aspects of the problem, I will show that environmental change causes the barrier for group advantages to become much weaker. That weakening might help small group advantages to add up to the point they could make an adaptive difference. To answer why we age, we might have to abandon asking which models are correct. The full answer might come from considering how much each hypothesis behind each existing model, evolutionary and non-evolutionary ones, contributes to the real world’s solution.

DUETS for Light's in separating exudate from transudate.

Fifty years since its inception, Light's criteria have aided in classifying pleural effusions (PEs) as exudates if 1 or more criteria are met. Thoracic ultrasound (US) emerges as a non-invasive technique for point of care use especially if pleural procedures are contemplated. We aimed to develop a score based on radiological and US features that could separate exudates from transudates without serum and pleural fluid biochemical tests necessary for Light's criteria. A prospective review of consecutive patients with PE who underwent thoracocentesis was performed. CXRs were evaluated for laterality followed by US for echogenicity, pleural nodularity, thickening and septations. PE was classified as exudate or transudate according to Light's criteria and corroborated with albumin gradient. A score combining radiological and US features was developed. We recruited 201 patients with PE requiring thoracocentesis. Mean age was 64 years, 51% were females, 164 (81.6%) were exudates, and 37 (18.4%) were transudates. Assigning 1-point for Diaphragmatic nodularity, Unilateral, Echogenicity, Pleural Thickening and Septations, DUETS ranged from 1 to 5. DUETS ≥2 indicated high likelihood for exudate (PPV 98.8%, NPV 100%) with 1% misclassification versus 6.9% using Light's criteria (p < 0.001). DUETS separated exudates from transudates with good accuracy, and could obviate paired serum and pleural fluid tests necessary for Light's criteria computation. Our study reflected real world practice where DUETS performed better than Light's criteria for PE that arose from more than one disease processes, and in the evaluation of patients with PE who have received diuretics.

Treatment patterns and outcomes in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Over the last decade, innovative treatments have enlarged the therapeutic arsenal against NSCLC. Although there is clinical evidence supporting treatment options, controversy surrounds the impact of their combinations and sequence. The goal of this study was to fill this gap using real world data (Symphony Health).9676 Patients with a diagnosis of non-metastatic (NM) and metastatic (M) NSCLC between July 2016 and December 2016 were included and followed till December 2021. The following data were collected: diagnostic date, age, gender, comorbidities, metastases, treatments (SUrgery, RAdiotherapy, CHemotherapy, IMmunotherapy, and TArgeted therapies), sequence (L1-L4), and death. Treatment patterns (Sankey graphs), and outcomes (Kaplan-Meyer and Cox regressions) were derived.Amongst NM patients, the most frequently observed treatments were RA, IM, IM and CH in first, second, third and fourth lines respectively. In M patients, the most frequent treatments were CH, IM, IM, and IM in first, second, third and fourth lines respectively. The overall 5-years survival in the cohort was 23.7% (36% in NM, 16% in M). The corresponding median survival time were 1.98 years (3.2 NM, 1.27 M). In NM, best median survival times were recorded for those with only one line SU. For patients who had 2 lines, CH→IM; 3 lines, CH→IM→CH. In M, best median survival times were recorded for those with only one line RA. For patients who had 2 lines CH→IM; 3 lines CH→IM→CH.These new insights could guide further studies and improve the management of patients with NSCLC.

P200 Retrospective observational study on patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated in first line with Pembrolizumab + Axitinib: A real world project of the campania oncology network

P200 Retrospective observational study on patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated in first line with Pembrolizumab + Axitinib: A real world project of the campania oncology network