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Monitoring wetlands is necessary in order to understand and protect their ecohydrological balance. In Ireland, traditionally wetland-monitoring is carried out by manual field visits which can be very time-consuming. To automate the process, this study extends the ability of remote sensing-based monitoring of wetlands by combining RGB image processing, machine learning algorithms, and satellite data analysis to create seasonal maps of vegetation communities within the wetlands. The methodology matches multispectral and broad coverage of open-source Sentinel-2 (S2) imagery with the high spatial granularity of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or drone images. Single sensor drone imagery was captured, colour corrected and classified using random forest (RF) classifier for a subset of the wetland. The classified imagery was upsampled to satellite imagery scale to create training data for vegetation-segmentation in the entire wetland. The process was repeated for multiple seasons, and an annual map was created utilising the majority voting. The proposed framework has been evaluated on various wetlands across Ireland, with results presented herein for an ombrotrophic peatland complex, Clara Bog. The accuracy of the maps was checked utilising a set of area-based performance metric. The application of this method thereby reduces the number of field surveys typically required to assess the long-term ecological change of such wetland habitats. The performance of the proposed method demonstrates that the technique is a robust, quick, and cost-effective way to map wetland habitats seasonally and to explore their ecohydrological synergies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time estimates of natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping of a structural system can be interpreted to its structural health. In this regard, real-time estimation of damping ratios for full-scale structures can be useful by itself or in conjunction with real-time estimates of natural frequencies. Such estimates also allow for continuous health monitoring. This paper demonstrates an approach of assessing real-time damping in full scale bridges and demonstrates this on one of the iconic steel bridges in Ireland, the Daly's "Shaky" bridge. This is the only suspension bridge in the city of Cork, Ireland and renowned in popular culture for its lively behaviour. From existing vibration data evaluated from an image processing technique, the damping estimates of the Daly's bridge are evaluated based on an automated enhanced frequency domain decomposition (AE-FDD) technique. The method provides accurate estimates of natural frequencies and mode shapes and additionally yields the damping ratio corresponding to each vibration (and/or torsional) mode. This technique of real-time damping estimation can be easily adapted for other full-scale structures in an automated real-time framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emissions from real-world driving are often higher than estimated emission levels based on Euro emissions standards and type-approval tests. Consequently, the air quality in cities has not improved as originally anticipated from fleet renewal and stringent emission regulations for newer vehicles. This paper presents the real-world emission factors (EFs) for in-use cars, taxis, vans, and buses obtained using on-road remote sensing in Dublin city, Ireland. EFs from both petrol and diesel Euro 6 vehicles were significantly improved compared to the EFs of older emission standard vehicles. The analyses indicated that the presence of a few high emitting older vehicles skewed the overall distribution of EFs. Detailed description of variations in EFs for individual pollutants based on changes in emission standards, location, and other driving characteristics were studied and reported, which provide justification for implementing policies targeting fleet renewal. • First study to report real-world emission factors for in-use vehicles in Ireland. • This study considers cars, taxis, vans, and buses of varying makes and models. • Decreasing trends of NO EFs for all diesel vehicles with higher Euro standards. • Strong temperature dependence of NO x emissions for Euro 4 and Euro 5 diesel cars. • Remote sensing measurements can be used to inform vehicle emission control policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cycling as a mode of travel provides an opportunity for many people to increase their levels of regular physical activity and contribute to their mental and physical health. Heart rate is often used as a means of measuring the intensity and energy expenditure of physical activity. However, heart rate is also linked to emotional factors such as anxiety and fear. Perceptions of risk due to external factors such as other road users and infrastructure may arouse such emotions in urban cyclists. The present study set out to investigate whether or not perceptions of risk among urban cyclists may lead to increased heart rates. Cyclists completed a test route in normal traffic conditions in Cork, Ireland and heart rates and self-reported risk ratings were recorded in real time. Evidence was found of a link between perceptions of risk and heart rates. This raises questions regarding the use of heart rate to estimate exercise intensity and energy expenditure during urban cycling. The perceptions of cyclists of their safety in relation to various road elements on familiar routes were also assessed, as well as specific events which they perceive to be high in risk. The results indicate that incidents involving car traffic and busy roads which offer no protection from interaction with car traffic are associated with greatest perceptions of risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose/Objectives: To explore nurses' practice patterns, knowledge, and barriers related to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional.Setting: The United States.Sample: 408 oncology nurses.Methods: A team of eight experts met and developed the CIPN nurse knowledge and preferences survey, which was electronically sent to randomly selected nurses.Main Research Variables: The survey assessed nurses' knowledge and practice patterns regarding assessment strategies and barriers, evidence-based interventions, preferences for education, and perceived gaps in scientific knowledge.Findings: Nurses in the survey lacked knowledge regarding neurotoxicity of specific agents and evidence-based treatments. CIPN-focused physical examinations and standardized measurement tools were infrequently used during assessment. The most frequently reported barriers to CIPN assessment included lack of access to measurement tools, lack of specialized skills needed for assessment, lack of confidence, and lack of time. Recommendations for future research included CIPN prevention research, exploration of CIPN-related effects on quality of life, and alternative treatments of CIPN. The majority of participants preferred online educational opportunities.Conclusions: Nurses do not consistently integrate evaluation and management of CIPN in their practices.Implications for Nursing: Educational offerings should incorporate web-based CIPN assessment and management content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As utilization of individual antenatal care (I-ANC) has increased throughout sub-Saharan Africa, questions have arisen about whether individual versus group-based care might yield better outcomes. We implemented a trial of group-based antenatal care (G-ANC) to determine its impact on birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) among pregnant women in Ghana., Methods: We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial comparing G-ANC to routine antenatal care in 14 health facilities in the Eastern Region of Ghana. We recruited women in their first trimester to participate in eight two-hour interactive group sessions throughout their pregnancies. Meetings were facilitated by midwives trained in G-ANC methods, and clinical assessments were conducted in addition to group discussions and activities. Data were collected at five timepoints, and results are presented comparing baseline (T0) to 34 weeks' gestation to 3 weeks post-delivery (T1) for danger sign recognition, an 11-point additive scale of BPCR, as well as individual items comprising the scale., Results: 1285 participants completed T0 and T1 assessments (N = 668 I-ANC, N = 617, G-ANC). At T1, G-ANC participants were able to identify significantly more pregnancy danger signs than I-ANC participants (mean increase from 1.8 to 3.4 in G-ANC vs. 1.7 to 2.2 in I-ANC, p < 0.0001). Overall BPCR scores were significantly greater in the G-ANC group than the I-ANC group. The elements of BPCR that showed the greatest increases included arranging for emergency transport (I-ANC increased from 1.5 to 11.5% vs. G-ANC increasing from 2 to 41% (p < 0.0001)) and saving money for transportation (19-32% in the I-ANC group vs. 19-73% in the G-ANC group (p < 0.0001)). Identifying someone to accompany the woman to the facility rose from 1 to 3% in the I-ANC group vs. 2-20% in the G-ANC group (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: G-ANC significantly increased BPCR among women in rural Eastern Region of Ghana when compared to routine antenatal care. Given the success of this intervention, future efforts that prioritize the implementation of G-ANC are warranted., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04033003 (25/07/2019)., Protocol Available: Protocol Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9508671/ ., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This review focuses on the definitions, modalities, applications, and performance of various aspects of digital twins (DTs) in the context of transmission and industrial machinery. In this regard, the context around Industry 4.0 and even aspirations for Industry 5.0 are discussed. The many definitions and interpretations of DTs in this domain are first summarized. Subsequently, their adoption and performance levels for rotating and industrial machineries for manufacturing and lifetime performance are observed, along with the type of validations that are available. A significant focus on integrating fundamental operations of the system and scenarios over the lifetime, with sensors and advanced machine or deep learning, along with other statistical or data-driven methods are highlighted. This review summarizes how individual aspects around DTs are extremely helpful for lifetime design, manufacturing, or decision making even when a DT can remain incomplete or limited.

Introduction: A recently developed mild behavioral impairment (MBI) diagnostic framework standardizes the early characterization of neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults. However, the links between MBI, brain function, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers are unclear., Methods: Using data from 128 participants with diagnosis of amnestic mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia - Alzheimer's type, we test a novel model assessing direct relationships between AD biomarker status and MBI symptoms, as well as mediated effects through segregation of the salience and default-mode networks., Results: We identified a mediated effect of tau positivity on MBI through functional segregation of the salience network from the other high-level, association networks. There were no direct effects of AD biomarkers status on MBI., Discussion: Our findings suggest an indirect role of tau pathology in MBI through brain network dysfunction and emphasize the role of the salience network in mediating relationships between neuropathological changes and behavioral manifestations., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS No authors associated with this study reported conflicts of interest that would impact the reported results.

Assessing real-world emissions from buses and taxis is vital to comprehend their impact on urban air quality. Such vehicles differ significantly from the majority of the fleet owing to their higher mileage rates. However, few studies have focused on specifically assessing the emissions from this segment of the vehicle fleet. In this context, this study evaluated the real-world emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) from in-use buses and taxis in Dublin, Ireland, using crossroad remote sensing technology. The remote sensing system was deployed at strategic locations throughout the city to capture on-road emissions from passing vehicles. The collected data included vehicle related information such as emission standard, make, and mileage, and pollutants including NO x . Based on this data, analysis was aimed to understand the impact of Euro emission standard, ambient temperature, mileage, and make of the vehicle on NO x emissions. The results reveal that the average emissions from taxis reduce by 37% from Euro 5 to Euro 6b, and average emissions from Euro 6 buses are 87% lower compared to Euro 5. The trends in emission factors (EFs) of buses and taxis were similar during summer and winter sampling. Moreover, on comparing the emissions from the top five taxi manufacturers, different trends in the emission factors were observed. Finally, the study found that the effect of vehicle mileage on emissions was unclear for both buses and taxis. In any case, these findings provide valuable insights into the real-world emission performance of the existing fleet of buses and taxis in Dublin and highlight the need for targeted measures to reduce emissions from these vehicles. The results can assist policymakers and urban planners in formulating evidence-based strategies to improve air quality in Dublin and other cities facing similar challenges., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: Although the majority of Ghanaian women receive antenatal care (ANC), many exhibit low health literacy by misinterpreting and incorrectly operationalizing ANC messages, leading to poor maternal and newborn health outcomes. Prior research in low-resource settings has found group antenatal care (G-ANC) feasible for women and providers. This study aims to determine the effect of G-ANC on increasing maternal health literacy. We hypothesized that pregnant women randomized into G-ANC would exhibit a greater increase in maternal health literacy than women in routine, individual ANC., Methods: A 5-year cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in 14 rural and peri-urban health facilities in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Facilities were paired based on patient volume and average gestational age at ANC enrollment and then randomized into intervention (G-ANC) vs. control (routine, individual ANC); 1761 pregnant women were recruited. Data collection occurred at baseline (T0) and post-birth (T2) using the Maternal Health Literacy scale, a 12-item composite scale to assess maternal health literacy. Logistic regression compared changes in health literacy from T0 to T2., Results: Overall, women in both the intervention and control groups improved their health literacy scores over time (p < 0.0001). Women in the intervention group scored significantly higher on 3 individual items and on overall composite scores (p < 0.0001) and were more likely to attend 8 or more ANC visits., Conclusion: While health literacy scores improved for all women attending ANC, women randomized into G-ANC exhibited greater improvement in overall health literacy post-birth compared to those receiving routine individual care. Life-saving information provided during ANC must be presented in an understandable format to prevent women and newborns from dying of preventable causes., Trial Registry: Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Institutional Review Boards of the University of Michigan (HUM#00161464) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS-ERC: 016/04/19)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Healthy Lifetime, a theoretically driven, personalized health coaching program delivered electronically, including face-to-face videoconferencing, was developed to intervene in early aging to stave off functional decline and minimize the onset/exacerbation of chronic conditions., Objective: To determine the efficacy of a theoretically driven, personalized health coaching program in participants 50 years and older with one or more chronic conditions using a randomized, controlled, pragmatic clinical trial methodology., Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to the HL (n = 59) or a usual care (n = 63) group. The HL group received health coaching from a trained nurse over eight weeks. Outcomes were measured at baseline, eight weeks, and 20 weeks (after the 12-week no-treatment phase). Regression modeling with fixed-effect repeated measures was used to account for the longitudinal data collection., Results: For the HL group, health habits increased at 8 weeks (3.1 units; SE = 1.0; p = .0005; effect size = .15). This difference was sustained at 20 weeks (2.4 units, SE = 0.2; p = .0005). Independent self-care agency improved at 8 weeks in individuals with high blood pressure (13.5 units; SE = 4.37; p = .0023; effect size = .3). However, that difference was not sustained at 20 weeks (p = .47). No significant improvements were shown in the usual care group at 8 weeks or 20 weeks., Conclusions: HL participants significantly improved their health habits at 8 weeks and sustained this improvement at week 20 (after a 12-week no-treatment phase) vs. the usual care group. Changing health habits alone has been shown to reduce all-cause morbidity and mortality in chronic disease. The high-functioning, community-dwelling older adults with chronic diseases we studied is an important target population for primary care practices to intervene early in aging to stave off the complications of chronic disease and functional decline., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (record NCT05070923, 07/10/2021)., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Health information is a critical resource for individuals with health concerns and conditions, such as hypertension. Enhancing health information behaviors may help individuals to better manage chronic illness. The Modes of Health Information Acquisition, Sharing, and Use (MHIASU) is a 23-item questionnaire that measures how individuals with health risks or chronic illness acquire, share, and use health information. Yet this measure has not been psychometrically evaluated in a large national sample., Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the self-administered MHIASU in a large, diverse cohort of individuals living with a chronic illness., Methods: Sharing Information, a prospective, observational study, was launched in August 2018 and used social media campaigns to advertise to Black women. Individuals who were interested in participating clicked on the advertisements and were redirected to a Qualtrics eligibility screener. To meet eligibility criteria individuals had to self-identify as a Black woman, be diagnosed with hypertension by a health care provider, and live in the United States. A total of 320 Black women with hypertension successfully completed the eligibility screener and then completed a web-based version of the MHIASU questionnaire. We conducted a psychometric evaluation of the MHIASU using exploratory factor analysis. The evaluation included item review, construct validity, and reliability., Results: Construct validity was established using exploratory factor analysis with principal axis factoring. The analysis was constricted to the expected domains. Interitem correlations were examined for possible item extraction. There were no improvements in factor structure with the removal of items with high interitem correlation (n=3), so all items of the MHIASU were retained. As anticipated, the instrument was found to have 3 subscales: acquisition, sharing, and use. Reliability was high for all 3 subscales, as evidenced by Cronbach α scores of .81 (acquisition), .81 (sharing), and .93 (use). Factor 3 (use of health information) explained the maximum variance (74%)., Conclusions: Construct validity and reliability of the web-based, self-administered MHIASU was demonstrated in a large national cohort of Black women with hypertension. Although this sample was highly educated and may have had higher digital literacy compared to other samples not recruited via social media, the population captured (Black women living with hypertension) are often underrepresented in research and are particularly vulnerable to this chronic condition. Future studies can use the MHIASU to examine health information behavior in other diverse populations managing health concerns and conditions., (©Lenette M Jones, Ronald J Piscotty Jr, Stephen Sullivan, Beatriz Manzor Mitrzyk, Robert J Ploutz-Snyder, Bidisha Ghosh, Tiffany Veinot. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (https://www.jmir.org), 11.09.2023.)

Background: Large segments of the US population do not receive quality cancer care due to pervasive and systemic inequities, which can increase morbidity and mortality. Multicomponent, multilevel interventions can address inequities and improve care, but only if they reach communities with suboptimal access. Intervention studies often underenroll individuals from historically excluded groups., Methods: The Alliance to Advance Patient-Centered Cancer Care includes 6 grantees across the United States who implemented unique multicomponent, multilevel intervention programs with common goals of reducing disparities, increasing engagement, and improving the quality of care for targeted populations. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework informed the evaluation efforts across sites. Each Alliance site identified their intended populations, which included underrepresented minorities (eg, Black and Latinx persons), individuals who prefer a language other than English, and rural residents. We evaluated the demographic characteristics of participants to determine program reach., Results: Between 2018 and 2020, a total of 2,390 of 5,309 potentially eligible participants were enrolled across the 6 sites. The proportion of enrolled individuals with selected characteristics included 38% (n=908) Black adults, 24% (n=574) Latinx adults, 19% (n=454) preferring a language other than English, and 30% (n=717) rural residents. The proportion of those enrolled who were the intended population was commensurate to the proportion with desired characteristics in those identified as potentially eligible., Conclusions: The grantees met or exceeded enrollments from their intended populations who have been underserved by quality cancer care into patient-centered intervention programs. Intentional application of recruitment/engagement strategies is needed to reach individuals from historically underserved communities.

The practice of nurse health coaching (NHC) draws from the art and science of nursing, behavioral sciences, and evidence-based health-coaching methods. This secondary analysis of the audio-recorded natural language of participants during NHC sessions of our recent 8-week RCT evaluates improvement over time in cognitive−behavioral outcomes: change talk, resiliency, self-efficacy/independent agency, insight and pattern recognition, and building towards sustainability. We developed a measurement tool for coding, Indicators of Health Behavior Change (IHBC), that was designed to allow trained health-coach experts to assess the presence and frequency of the indicators in the natural language content of participants. We used a two-step method for randomly selecting the 20 min audio-recorded session that was analyzed at each time point. Fifty-six participants had high-quality audio recordings of the NHC sessions. Twelve participants were placed in the social determinants of health (SDH) group based on the following: low income (

This article reports the fluorometric detection of toxic hexavalent chromium Cr (VI)) in wastewater and Cr (VI) contaminated living cells using in-situ grown carbon quantum dots into the goethite (α-FeOOH) nano-matrix. The synthesized nano-hybrid shows enormous potential in determining the chromium contamination levels in various types of water samples. This selective fluorometric probe is enormously sensitive (LOD 81 nM) toward hexavalent chromium, which makes it a dedicated chromium sensor. Moreover, the sensing mechanism has been assessed using Stern-Volmer's equation and fluorescence lifetime experiments showing the simultaneous occurrence of photoinduced electron transfer and the inner filter effect. This chromium sensor has also been employed to assess the contamination level in real-life industrial wastewater. The performance of this probe in a real-life wastewater sample is quite commendable. Further, this biocompatible fluorometric probe has been used to demonstrate the in-vitro sensing of Cr (VI) in HeLa cells. The rapid detection mechanism of hexavalent chromium in living cells has been validated using theoretical docking simulations. Henceforth, this fluorometric sensor material could open new avenues not only in wastewater monitoring but also in biomedical applications., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Effective Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) often requires continuous monitoring to capture changes of features of interest in structures, which are often located far from power sources. A key challenge lies in continuous low-power data transmission from sensors. Despite significant developments in long-range, low-power telecommunication (e.g., LoRa NB-IoT), there are inadequate demonstrative benchmarks for low-power SHM. Damage detection is often based on monitoring features computed from acceleration signals where data are extensive due to the frequency of sampling (~100-500 Hz). Low-power, long-range telecommunications are restricted in both the size and frequency of data packets. However, microcontrollers are becoming more efficient, enabling local computing of damage-sensitive features. This paper demonstrates the implementation of an Edge-SHM framework through low-power, long-range, wireless, low-cost and off-the-shelf components. A bespoke setup is developed with a low-power MEM accelerometer and a microcontroller where frequency and time domain features are computed over set time intervals before sending them to a cloud platform. A cantilever beam excited by an electrodynamic shaker is monitored, where damage is introduced through the controlled loosening of bolts at the fixed boundary, thereby introducing rotation at its fixed end. The results demonstrate how an IoT-driven edge platform can benefit continuous monitoring.

Background: Nurses play a pivotal role in improving patient care. To maximize nurses' impact on quality, nurses must have quality improvement (QI) competence and engage fully in QI initiatives., Purpose: To describe QI competence (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) among frontline nurses and leaders; and compare variations in competence among nursing roles, experience, and specialty areas., Methods: A total of 681 nurses at one heath system fully completed the Nursing Quality Improvement Practice tool electronically., Findings: Half of the respondents reported QI engagement (53.6%). Mean knowledge scores were 5.08 (SD 1.16, 7 items). Skill proficiency was low (M = 2.82, SD = 1.03; range 1-6) although QI attitudes were favorable (M = 3.76, SD = 0.63; range 1-5). Significant differences in skills and attitudes were identified by role. QI competence among nurses employed in various specialty areas were similar., Discussion: Strategies for increasing QI competence and engagement of nurses must be created and deployed in order to improve quality and safety., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Frontline nurse engagement in quality improvement (QI) improves nurse-sensitive outcomes; yet research suggests frontline nurses are not engaging in QI., Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop, refine, and psychometrically evaluate the Nursing Quality Improvement in Practice (N-QuIP) tool to measure nurses' competency, engagement, and barriers/facilitators to QI engagement., Methods: Item development was guided by an expert panel and literature review. Factor analysis and reliability indices were assessed through 681 surveys completed by nurses at one medical center., Results: Cronbach α coefficients were 0.97 (Skill Scale) and 0.90 (Attitude Scale). Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20) for knowledge was 0.36. Exploratory factor analysis identified 4 (Skill) and 3 (Attitude) subscales respectively, aligning well with QI competencies., Conclusions: Preliminary data suggest that the N-QuIP is a valid and reliable tool for assessing nurse QI competence and engagement. Understanding current knowledge, skills, and attitudes and identified barriers/facilitators can help the development of strategies aimed at increasing QI engagement.

An interprofessional conference that addressed basic palliative care knowledge and skills was implemented annually at a large, academic healthcare institution. The conference significantly influenced participant's self-perceived competencies in the delivery of quality palliative care. This conference led to a sustainable program of palliative care initiatives consisting of a yearly workshop for nurses focused on palliative care core competencies and a biennial interprofessional conference designed to facilitate networking and address significant topics in palliative care.