Usual Case Research Articles

Selection criteria for rotor number and rotational direction in arrays of closely spaced Darrieus turbines

Abstract The efficiency gains observed in a pair of closely spaced Darrieus turbines suggest the deployment of multiple turbines as an appealing solution for wind and, particularly, hydrokinetic applications, where the inflow direction is constant. The present study develops some design guidelines for closely spaced hydrokinetic Darrieus turbines by analyzing the trends of both power augmentation and wake development within arrays of multiple rotors, including not only an even number of rotors, which is the usual case in literature, but also an odd one. The analysis is carried out by means of two-dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations and includes not only the assessment of instantaneous blade forces but also locally sampled flow fields past each blade that allowed the reconstruction of dynamic polar data, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the physical mechanisms at play in such compact setups. The study demonstrates a consistent power augmentation mechanism across different layouts, even in the case of an odd number of rotors. This enhancement originates from flow blockage in the mutual interaction areas, favorably altering the inflow angle and subsequently increasing the angle of attack and lift generation. While this mechanism aligns with previous observations on arrays of counter-rotating pairs, its application to multiple turbines introduces complexities due to potential asymmetries in inflow, leading to an uneven power enhancement across turbines within the array. The identified efficiency improvement pattern suggests that maximizing leeward mutual interactions within an array of multiple Darrieus turbines would enhance the overall efficiency of the setup.

On Dunkl-Bose-Einstein Condensation in Harmonic Traps

The use of the Dunkl derivative, defined by a combination of the difference-differential and reflection operators, allows the classification of the solutions according to even and odd solutions. Recently, we considered the Dunkl formalism to investigate the Bose-Einstein condensation of an ideal Bose gas confined in a gravitational field. In this work, we address another essential problem and examine an ideal Bose gas trapped by a three-dimensional harmonic oscillator within the Dunkl formalism. To this end, we derive an analytic expression for the critical temperature of the N particle system, discuss its value at large-N limit andfinally derive and compare the ground state population with the usual case result. In addition, we explore two thermal quantities, namely the Dunkl-internal energy and the Dunkl-heat capacity functions.

Strict liability versus negligence in the case of data breach

This study compares the efficiency of the strict liability and negligence rules in the case of a data breach. Contrary to standard results, we demonstrate that the strict liability rule cannot induce the efficient activity and care levels of a data controller. This is mainly due to possible positive externalities from data breaches, unlike in usual tort cases. We show that the negligence rule is more efficient than the strict liability rule if the positive externality is sufficiently large. The main insight is carried over to the case where a data controller uses a data processor to process personal information before selling it in the market. If hackers are explicitly introduced into the model, the care level of the data controller increases with the hacking activity, whereas the latter level decreases with the former. In this model, if the hacker’s gain is sufficiently small, the negligence rule can be made more efficient by adjusting due care to a harsher level than the equilibrium care level under strict liability to reduce hacking activity, although a pure strategy equilibrium may not exist for some due care levels.

Imperfect maintenance modelling and estimation for interval-censored data

The paper proposes a new maintenance model for a repairable system. The system is inspected at deterministic times. If a failure occurs between two successive inspections, a minimal repair is performed. At inspection times, two types of maintenance actions can be performed. The first originality of the paper is to consider that the choice between these two types of maintenance depends on the fact that there has been a failure or not since the previous inspection. If no failure has occurred since the last inspection, the maintenance, simply denoted PM, corresponds to a basic preventive maintenance action, whose effect is planned by the initial maintenance plan. If at least one failure has occurred since the last inspection, the maintenance, denoted PCM, includes both the preventive action planned by the initial maintenance plan, and a specific corrective action which aims to fix the defects that have happened since the last inspection. Both types of maintenances are assumed to be imperfect, of the ARA (Arithmetic Reduction of Age) type, with different parameters. Moreover, the paper derives several statistical inference methods for this model. The usual case of complete data is first considered. The second originality of the paper is to analyse interval-censored data in this imperfect maintenance framework. This situation holds when failure times are not observed, and the only information is the fact that failures have occurred or not between two inspections. The quality of the proposed methods is assessed on simulated data. Finally, a real dataset from a gas transmission system operator is provided and analysed with the proposed approach.

Prostate Segmentation in MRI Images using Transfer Learning based Mask RCNN.

The second highest cause of death among males is Prostate Cancer (PCa) in America. Over the globe, it's the usual case in men, and the annual PCa ratio is very surprising. Identical to other prognosis and diagnostic medical systems, deep learning-based automated recognition and detection systems (i.e., Computer Aided Detection (CAD) systems) have gained enormous attention in PCA. These paradigms have attained promising results with a high segmentation, detection, and classification accuracy ratio. Numerous researchers claimed efficient results from deep learning-based approaches compared to other ordinary systems that utilized pathological samples. This research is intended to perform prostate segmentation using transfer learning-based Mask R-CNN, which is consequently helpful in prostate cancer detection. Lastly, limitations in current work, research findings, and prospects have been discussed.

Motivational Network Intervention to Reduce Substance Use and Increase Supportive Connections for Emerging Adults in a Supportive Housing Program

Abstract: Background. For transition-aged youth experiencing homelessness (TAYEH) moving to transitional housing, a motivational network intervention (MNI) may help modify high-risk networks, thereby reducing substance use and strengthening prosocial connections. Methods. Thirty-six TAYEH received a four-session MNI integrated into usual housing case management or usual case management. Intervention acceptability, feasibility, and motivational interviewing fidelity were evaluated. Results. Nearly all participants would recommend the MNI to others, formed goals, and believed the program improved their lives. Case managers delivered the program with fidelity. However, sample size and number of sessions delivered fell short of targets due to COVID-19 disruptions and other factors and limited our ability to examine preliminary effects on substance use and network outcomes in a fully powered trial. Conclusion. Case managers can successfully deliver the MNI, but its use may not be feasible unless adaptations are made to accommodate the instability this population faces when they enter housing.

Improving Cardiac Rehabilitation Adherence in Patients With Lower Socioeconomic Status

Participation in cardiac rehabilitation is associated with significant decreases in morbidity and mortality. Despite the proven benefits, cardiac rehabilitation is severely underutilized in certain populations, specifically those with lower socioeconomic status (SES). To assess the efficacy of early case management and/or financial incentives for increasing cardiac rehabilitation adherence among patients with lower SES. This randomized clinical trial enrolled patients from December 2018 to December 2022. Participants were followed up for 1 year with assessors and cardiac rehabilitation staff blinded to study condition. Patients with lower SES with a cardiac rehabilitation-qualifying diagnosis (myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous coronary intervention, heart valve replacement/repair, or stable systolic heart failure) were recruited. Then patients attended one of 3 cardiac rehabilitation programs at 1 university or 2 community-based hospitals. A consecutively recruited sample was randomized and stratified by age (<57 vs ≥57 years) and smoking status (current smoker vs nonsmoker or former smoker). Participants were randomized 2:3:3:3 to either a usual care control, case management starting in-hospital, financial incentives for completing cardiac rehabilitation sessions, or both interventions (case management plus financial incentives). Interventions were in place for 4 months following informed consent. The main outcome was cardiac rehabilitation adherence (proportion of patients completing ≥30 sessions). The a priori hypothesis was that interventions would improve adherence, with the combined intervention performing best. Of 314 individuals approached, 11 were ineligible, and 94 declined participation. Of the 209 individuals who were randomized, 17 were withdrawn. A total of 192 individuals (67 [35%] female; mean [SD] age, 58 [11] years) were included in the analysis. Interventions significantly improved cardiac rehabilitation adherence with 4 of 36 (11%), 13 of 51 (25%), 22 of 53 (42%), and 32 of 52 (62%) participants completing at least 30 sessions in the usual care, case management, financial incentives, and case management plus financial incentives conditions, respectively. The financial incentives and case management plus financial incentives conditions significantly improved cardiac rehabilitation adherence vs usual care (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 5.1 [95% CI, 1.5-16.7]; P = .01; AOR, 13.2 [95% CI, 4.0-43.5]; P < .001, respectively), and the case management plus financial incentives condition was superior to both case management or financial incentives alone (AOR, 5.0 [95% CI, 2.1-11.9]; P < .001; AOR, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.2-5.9]; P = .02, respectively). Interventions were received well by participants: 86 of 105 (82%) in the financial incentives conditions earned at least some incentives, and 96 of 103 participants (93%) assigned to a case manager completed the initial needs assessment. In this randomized clinical trial, financial incentives improved cardiac rehabilitation adherence in a population with higher risk and lower SES with additional benefit from adding case management. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03759873.

A novel deforestation risk and baseline allocation model for the next generation of nested REDD+ projects

Nature-based solutions that use a counterfactual scenario depend heavily on the methodology used to determine the business as usual (BAU) case, i.e., the “baseline.” Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) projects traditionally set baselines using a “reference area” as a control for estimating BAU deforestation and emissions in the treatment (project) area. While the REDD+ market is shifting from project-based to nested approaches as countries increase their efforts to meet nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to the Paris agreement’s global climate target, methodologies for allocating national baselines are not yet formalized and tested, despite an urgent need to scale the market. We present a novel method for mapping deforestation risk and allocating national forest reference emission levels (FREL) to projects: baseline allocation for assessed risk (BAAR). This approach provides a spatial predictor of future deforestation using a dynamic vector, and a method for allocating a FREL to differentiated risk areas at the project level. Here, we present BAAR using 34 REDD+ projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). We demonstrate the importance of risk-based FREL allocations to balance fitness for purpose and scientific rigor. We show how BAAR can be used by governments to focus voluntary carbon market finance in areas at highest risk of imminent deforestation, while maintaining alignment with nationally determined contribution (NDC) goals.

국제인권규범을 중심으로 한 젠더 기반 폭력(Gender-Based Violence)에 관한 연구

Gender-Based Violence against women is one of the most prevalent problems in most countries around the world. The issue of gender-based violence against women is related to the principle of constitutional equality, which guarantees equal rights for men and women, and the principle of non-discrimination, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender. In particular, violence against women can be considered gender-based violence because it is often caused by structural discrimination that goes beyond the usual criminal case. The case analyzed in this paper, P. and S. v. Poland, decided by the European Court of Human Rights in 2012, is significant because it is a relatively recent decision that addresses constitutional issues related to gender-based violence: the right to abortion, the prohibition of torture, the right to liberty, the right to respect for private and family life, the right to a fair-trial, the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and the principle of non-discrimination. The ECtHR found that the State's actions in relation to the applicant P. in this case fell short of the minimum measures required by Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights and that she had been subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. It also found that the deprivation of liberty by separating her from her parents and placing her in an institution was incompatible with Article 5 § 1 of the ECHR. The ECtHR also found that information concerning the sensitive private life of P. and her mother S. had been disclosed and that this disclosure could not be legally justified, thus concluding that Poland had violated Article 8 of the ECHR, as alleged by the applicants. However, no finding was made as to whether P. and S.'s negative freedom of religion could have been substantially violated in this case. In conclusion, it can be seen that, despite various efforts, the obligations to protect women from violence in family and social life are not adequately fulfilled by law. This is not a problem unique to Poland. In many countries, there is still a gap between traditional values and laws. It is hoped that this ruling will bring about a shift in the perception of gender-based violence.

On a Generalization of Symmetric Edge Polytopes to Regular Matroids

Abstract Starting from any finite simple graph, one can build a reflexive polytope known as a symmetric edge polytope. The first goal of this paper is to show that symmetric edge polytopes are intrinsically matroidal objects: more precisely, we prove that two symmetric edge polytopes are unimodularly equivalent precisely when they share the same graphical matroid. The second goal is to show that one can construct a generalized symmetric edge polytope starting from every regular matroid. Just like in the usual case, we are able to find combinatorial ways to describe the facets and an explicit regular unimodular triangulation of any such polytope. Finally, we show that the Ehrhart theory of the polar of a given generalized symmetric edge polytope is tightly linked to the structure of the lattice of flows of the dual regular matroid.

TASK SCHEDULING IN CLOUD COMPUTING: A PRIORITY-BASED HEURISTIC APPROACH

With the rapid development of cloud computing, more and more enterprises would like to upload and store their data in the public cloud. When the parts of the business of an enterprise are purchased by another enterprise, the corresponding data will be transferred to the acquiring enterprise. For the usual case, how to outsource the computation cost of data transfer to the cloud? How to ensure the remote purchased data integrity? Thus, it is important to study provable data possession with outsourced data transfer (DT-PDP). For the first time, we propose the novel concept: DT-PDP. By taking use of DT- PDP, the following three security requirements can be satisfied: (1) the other un-purchased data security of acquired enterprise can be ensured; (2) the purchased data integrity and privacy can be ensured; (3) the data transferability’s computation can be outsourced to the public cloud servers. For the security concept of DT-PDP, we give its motivation, system model and security model. Then, we design a concrete DT-PDP scheme based on the bilinear pairings. At last, we analyze the security, efficiency and flexibility of the concrete DT- PDP scheme. It shows that our scheme is provably secure and efficient.

Effect of Jointed Rock Mass on Seismic Response of Metro Station Tunnel-Group Structures

Effect of Jointed Rock Mass on Seismic Response of Metro Station Tunnel-Group Structures

Unlocking the potential of rooftop solar panels: An incentive rate structure design

With the continuous maturity of distributed generation technology, rooftop solar panels have come to play an increasingly critical role in the construction of future energy systems. However, there remains an open question as to how to design adequate rate structure and provide proper incentives for distributed solar production. In this paper, we propose an incentive rate structure for rooftop solar panels to fairly unlock the potential of such distributed energy resources. The interaction of residential consumers and utilities is formulated as a tri-level optimization model to evaluate the impact of the rate structure design on the welfare transfer and investment behavior of residential consumers. An incentive rate structure is designed in which the supply-side effects of rooftop solar panel investment are considered by explicitly modeling wholesale market dynamics. Contrary to conventional belief, we indicate that the integration of rooftop solar panels can increase the expected profits of the utility company in some usual cases. Case studies demonstrate that through adequate rate structure design, the market operator can achieve the established social goals while balancing the welfare transfer effect among different market entities. Hopefully, our work can provide novel insights and a theoretical reference for the relevant policy design.

Treatment Effect Modifiers for Return-to-Work in Patients With Musculoskeletal Disorders

Investigating how individual characteristics modify treatment effects can improve understanding, interpretation, and translation of trial findings. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to identify treatment effect modifiers of the MI-NAV trial, a 3 arm, parallel randomized controlled trial which compared motivational interviewing and stratified vocational advice intervention in addition to usual case management (UC), to UC alone. This study included (n = 514) participants with musculoskeletal disorders on sick leave for at least 50% of their contracted work hours for at least 7 consecutive weeks with the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. Sickness absence days was the primary outcome, measured from baseline assessment date until the 6-month follow-up. Potential treatment effect modifiers, identified a priori and informed by expert consultation and literature, were evaluated using linear regression models and statistical interaction tests. For motivational interviewing versus UC, age (mean difference [MD] −.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.5 to .2; P = .13) and self-perceived health status (MD −.3, 95% CI −.7 to .1; P = .19) were identified as potential effect modifiers (P ≤ .2). For stratified vocational advice intervention versus UC, analgesic medication use (MD −26.2, 95% CI −45.7 to −6.7; P = .009) was identified as a treatment effect modifier (P ≤ .05). These findings may assist in more targeted treatment adaptation and translation as well as the planning of future clinical trials. PerspectiveThis secondary analysis of the MI-NAV trial found that analgesic medication use, age, and self-perceived health may modify the effect of 2 vocational interventions on reducing sickness absence in people with musculoskeletal disorders.

Therapist-Level Moderators of Patient-Therapist Match Effectiveness in Community Psychotherapy

Based on patient-reported outcomes data analyzed at the provider level, there is evidence that psychotherapists can possess effectiveness strengths and weaknesses when treating patients with different presenting concerns. These within-therapist differences hold promise for personalizing care by prospectively matching patients to therapists’ historical effectiveness strengths. In a double-masked randomized controlled trial (RCT; NCT02990000), such matching outperformed pragmatically determined usual case assignment—which leaves personalized, measurement-based matching to chance—in naturalistic outpatient psychotherapy (Constantino et al., JAMA Psychiatry 78:960–969, 2021). Demonstrating that personalization can be even more precise, some research has demonstrated that the strength of this positive match effect was moderated by certain patient characteristics. Notably, though, it could also be that matching is especially important for some therapists to achieve more effective outcomes. Examining this novel question, the present study drew on the Constantino et al. (JAMA Psychiatry 78:960–969, 2021) trial data to explore three therapist-level moderators of matching: (a) effectiveness “spread” (i.e., greater performance variability across patients’ presenting problem domains), (b) overestimation of their measurement-based and problem-specific effectiveness, and (c) the frequency with which they use patient-reported routine outcomes monitoring in their practice. Patients were 206 adults, randomized to the match or control condition, treated by 40 therapists who were crossed over conditions. The therapist variables were assessed at the trial’s baseline and patients’ symptomatic/functional impairment and global distress were assessed regularly up to 16 weeks of treatment. Hierarchical linear models revealed that only therapist effectiveness spread significantly moderated the match effect for the global distress outcome; for therapists with more spread, the match effect was more pronounced, whereas the match effect was minimal for therapists with less effectiveness spread. Notably, two therapist-level covariates unexpectedly emerged as significant moderators for the symptomatic/functional impairment outcome; for clinicians who consistently treated patients with higher versus lower average severity levels and who relatedly treated a higher proportion of patients with primary presenting problems of substance misuse or violence, the beneficial match effect was even stronger. Thus, measurement-based matching may be especially potent for therapists with more variable effectiveness across problem domains, and who consistently treat patients with more severe presenting concerns or with particular primary problems, which provides further precision in conceptualizing personalized care.

Peers plus mobile app for treatment in HIV (PATH): protocol for a randomized controlled trial to test a community-based integrated peer support and mHealth intervention to improve viral suppression among Hispanic and Black people living with HIV

BackgroundSignificant disparities continue to exist in the HIV care continuum, whereby Hispanic and Black people living with HIV (PLWH) are less likely to achieve viral suppression compared to their White counterparts. Studies have shown that intervention approaches that involve peer navigation may play an important role in supporting patients to stay engaged in HIV care. However, implementation may be challenging in real-world settings where there are limited resources to support peer navigators. Combining a peer navigation approach with scalable mobile health (mHealth) technology may improve impact and implementation outcomes.MethodsWe combined a peer navigation intervention with a mHealth application and are conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test the efficacy of this integrated “Peers plus mobile App for Treatment in HIV” (PATH) intervention to improve HIV care engagement, and ultimately sustained viral suppression, among Hispanic and Black PLWH. We will enroll up to 375 PLWH into a two-arm prospective RCT, conducting follow-up assessments every 3 months up to 12 months post-baseline. Participants randomized to the control arm will continue to receive usual care Ryan White Program case management services. Individuals randomized to receive the PATH intervention will receive usual care plus access to two main intervention components: (1) a peer navigation program and (2) a mHealth web application. The primary outcome is sustained HIV viral suppression (undetectable viral load observed at 6- and 12-month follow-up). Secondary outcomes are retention in HIV care, gaps in HIV medical visits, and self-reported ART adherence. Recruitment for the RCT began in November 2021 and will continue until June 2024. Follow-up assessments and medical chart abstractions will be conducted to collect measurements of outcome variables.DiscussionThe efficacy trial of PATH will help to fill gaps in our scientific understanding of how a combined peer navigation and mHealth approach may produce effects on HIV care outcomes while addressing potential implementation challenges of peer navigation in Ryan White-funded clinics.Trial registrationThe PATH trial is registered at the United States National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine (ClinicalTrials.gov) under ID # NCT05427318. Registered on 22 June 2022.

Multi-path residual attention network for cancer diagnosis robust to a small number of training data of microscopic hyperspectral pathological images

Duct cancer is a malignant disease with higher mortality rates in males than in females, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis to improve treatment outcomes. Although various imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography scan (CT-scan) have been used for pathological analysis, hyperspectral imaging stands out as a promising approach, especially when combined with deep learning techniques. Hyperspectral imaging provides detailed information on tissue composition and biochemical properties, enabling better distinction between cancerous and healthy tissues. Although previous research based on hyperspectral imaging shows high accuracy, no previous research has used a small amount of training data, despite this being the usual case in medical image applications. Therefore, we propose a multi-path residual attention network (MRA-Net) with chunked residual channel attention (CRCA), which is a novel deep learning model specifically designed to address the challenges posed by limited training data, with a particular focus on using hyperspectral images. By leveraging the unique spectral information provided by hyperspectral imaging, MRA-Net extracts distinctive features, enhancing its ability to differentiate between cancerous and healthy tissues.We conducted the training and validation of our model using a publicly accessible dataset, resulting in an accuracy of 84.31% and a weighted harmonic mean of precision and recall (F1 score) of 84.29%, demonstrating its state-of-the-art performance compared to existing methods.

Regulating surrogacy across Western Europe: A usual case of (gendered) morality politics?

Regulating surrogacy across Western Europe: A usual case of (gendered) morality politics?

Black strings in asymptotically safe gravity

In this paper, we study black strings in asymptotic safety gravity (ASG) scenario. The ASG approach is introduced by implementing gravitational and cosmological running coupling constants directly in the black string metric. We calculate the Hawking temperature, entropy, and heat capacity of the improved black string metric in two cases: considering the cosmological constant fixed in some fixed point and the general case where both Newton’s constant and cosmological constant are improved. For the identification of the scale moment we used an general inverse law setting k(r) ∼ 1/r n . We show that improving only the Newton’s constant the problem of singularity is solved for the identifications with n > 1. However, if the cosmological constant is also running the singularity persists in the solution. Also, we show that the ASG effects predicts the presence of a remnant mass in the final evaporation process. Besides that, a logarithmic correction is observed in the entropy. However, a running cosmological constant introduces new correction terms to the entropy beyond that. We show that the improved black string solution remains stable, as in the usual case. Phase transitions are not observed in both cases studied here.

Protocol for a cluster randomized study to compare the effectiveness of a self-report distress tool and a mental health referral service to usual case management on program completion among vulnerable youthenrolled in a vocational training program.

1) To compare the effect of the self-report distress tool (DT) and rapid mental health referral process (MH) on vocational training program attendance. 2) To compare the effect of the DT and MH on vocational training program completion. 3) To compare the effect of the DT an MH on post-vocational training program employment. Pragmatic, multi-centre, 2x2 factorial, cluster randomized, superiority study with 4 parallel groups and primary endpoints of vocational program attendance and completion at 12 weeks and post-program employment at 24 months. Cluster randomization of each training cohort will be performed with a 1:1:1:1 allocation ratio using a site stratified, permuted-block group schema. Final sample size is expected to be 400 participants (100 per group). Students enrolled in Community Builder's Trades & Diversity Training Program in either the city of Barrie or Sudbury (in Ontario, Canada) will be eligible for enrollment if they have an active Ontario Health Insurance Plan number and Canadian Social Insurance Number and provide written informed consent prior to Training program commencement. The primary outcome includes: 1) Difference in proportion of absence-free program days from date of randomization, where absence-free days are defined as being present in class or work setting for ≥ 8 hours from Monday to Thursday during the 12-week program duration. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05626374 (November 23, 2022).