Investigating fouling deposition during combustion of hydrothermally treated palm empty fruit Bunch: Pilot-Scale study for industrial hydrothermal reactor.

Inorganic elements in palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) are problematic in boiler operation, causing slagging and fouling deposits. The first pilot-scale hydrothermal treatment (HTT) system was commenced in a palm oil mill to remove undesirable elements. Fuel properties, combustion behavior, and fouling deposition of HTT-EFB were investigated. Liquid temperatures and treatment times in the HTT system significantly altered EFB-fuel properties. At ≥ 60 °C, potassium removals of at least 78 % were achieved, generating EFB-fuel containing potassium below 0.5 %wt. Later, a series of EFB combustion experiments were conducted in a specially designed fixed-bed reactor to simulate the tube surface of industrial boilers. Fouling deposition from HTT-EFB combustion reduced to below half of untreated EFB at all HTT conditions and combustion temperatures studied. The deposit-to-fuel ratio of HTT-EFB combusted at 1,000 °C was 37.3 % lower than untreated EFB combusted at a typical EFB boiler at 800 °C. Results demonstrated great potential for HTT-EFB in industrial applications.

Assessing the Usability and Feasibility of Digital Assistant Tools for Direct Support Professionals: Participatory Design and Pilot-Testing.

BACKGROUND: The United States is experiencing a direct support professional (DSP) crisis, with demand far exceeding supply. Although generating documentation is a critical responsibility, it is one of the most wearisome aspects of DSPs' jobs. Technology that enables DSPs to log informal time-stamped notes throughout their shift could help reduce the burden of end-of-shift documentation and increase job satisfaction, which in turn could improve the quality of life of the individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) whom DSPs support. However, DSPs, with varied ages, levels of education, and comfort using technology, are not likely to adopt tools that detract from caregiving responsibilities or increase workload; therefore, technological tools for them must be relatively simple, extremely intuitive, and provide highly valued capabilities. OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the development and pilot-testing of a digital assistant tool (DAT) that enables DSPs to create informal notes throughout their shifts and use these notes to facilitate end-of-shift documentation. The purpose of the pilot study was to assess the usability and feasibility of the DAT. METHODS: The research team applied an established user-centered participatory design process to design, develop, and test the DAT prototypes between May 2020 and April 2023. Pilot-testing entailed having 14 DSPs who support adults with IDDs use the first full implementation of the DAT prototypes during 2 or 3 successive work shifts and fill out demographic and usability questionnaires. RESULTS: Participants used the DAT prototypes to create notes and help generate end-of-shift reports. The System Usability Scale score of 81.79 indicates that they found the prototypes easy to use. Survey responses imply that using the DAT made it easier for participants to produce required documentation and suggest that they would adopt the DAT if this tool were available for daily use. CONCLUSIONS: Simple technologies such as the DAT prototypes, which enable DSPs to use mobile devices to log time-stamped notes throughout their shift with minimal effort and use the notes to help write reports, have the potential to both reduce the burden associated with producing documentation and enhance the quality (level of detail and accuracy) of this documentation. This could help to increase job satisfaction and reduce turnover in DSPs, both of which would help improve the quality of life of the individuals with IDDs whom they support. The pilot test results indicate that DSPs found the DAT easy to use. Next steps include (1) producing more robust versions of the DAT with additional capabilities, such as storing data locally on mobile devices when Wi-Fi is not available; and (2) eliciting input from agency directors, families, and others who use data about adults with IDDs to help care for them to ensure that data produced by DSPs are relevant and useful.

Mental Distress, Label Avoidance, and Use of a Mental Health Chatbot: Results From a US Survey.

BACKGROUND: For almost two decades, researchers and clinicians have argued that certain aspects of mental health treatment can be removed from clinicians' responsibilities and allocated to technology, preserving valuable clinician time and alleviating the burden on the behavioral health care system. The service delivery tasks that could arguably be allocated to technology without negatively impacting patient outcomes include screening, triage, and referral. OBJECTIVE: We pilot-tested a chatbot for mental health screening and referral to understand the relationship between potential users' demographics and chatbot use; the completion rate of mental health screening when delivered by a chatbot; and the acceptability of a prototype chatbot designed for mental health screening and referral. This chatbot not only screened participants for psychological distress but also referred them to appropriate resources that matched their level of distress and preferences. The goal of this study was to determine whether a mental health screening and referral chatbot would be feasible and acceptable to users. METHODS: We conducted an internet-based survey among a sample of US-based adults. Our survey collected demographic data along with a battery of measures assessing behavioral health and symptoms, stigma (label avoidance and perceived stigma), attitudes toward treatment-seeking, readiness for change, and technology readiness and acceptance. Participants were then offered to engage with our chatbot. Those who engaged with the chatbot completed a mental health screening, received a distress score based on this screening, were referred to resources appropriate for their current level of distress, and were asked to rate the acceptability of the chatbot. RESULTS: We found that mental health screening using a chatbot was feasible, with 168 (75.7%) of our 222 participants completing mental health screening within the chatbot sessions. Various demographic characteristics were associated with a willingness to use the chatbot. The participants who used the chatbot found it to be acceptable. Logistic regression produced a significant model with perceived usefulness and symptoms as significant positive predictors of chatbot use for the overall sample, and label avoidance as the only significant predictor of chatbot use for those currently experiencing distress. CONCLUSIONS: Label avoidance, the desire to avoid mental health services to avoid the stigmatized label of mental illness, is a significant negative predictor of care seeking. Therefore, our finding regarding label avoidance and chatbot use has significant public health implications in terms of facilitating access to mental health resources. Those who are high on label avoidance are not likely to seek care in a community mental health clinic, yet they are likely willing to engage with a mental health chatbot, participate in mental health screening, and receive mental health resources within the chatbot session. Chatbot technology may prove to be a way to engage those in care who have previously avoided treatment due to stigma.

Cognitive Testing and Piloting of the Bangla Version of the Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning Among Adolescent Girls and Women With Disabilities in Selected Sub-districts of Bangladesh.

Introduction This study focuses on the cognitive testing and piloting of the Bangla version of the Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning among adolescent girls and women with disabilities in selected sub-districts of Bangladesh. The Washington Group on Disability Statistics developed the questionnaire as a tool to assess the functioning and disability status of individuals. The adaptation of this questionnaire to Bangla is crucial for capturing accurate data on the experiences of adolescent girls and women with disabilities in Bangladesh. Materials and methods The research employs a two-phase approach, starting with cognitive testing to ensure the linguistic and cultural relevance of the translated questionnaire. This phase involves engaging with a sample of the target population to assess the comprehension, clarity, and appropriateness of the questions. Subsequently, a pilot study was conducted in selected sub-districts to evaluate the feasibility and validity of the Bangla version of the Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning in real-world settings. Both of the tests were conducted in March 2023. Results There were different types of participants with different types of disabilities. Information processing, meaning, understanding the questions, thinking, and answering speed or time were different between groups, even though they were different from person to person. The initial assessments indicate strong consistency in responses. Participants demonstrated a favorable response rate, indicating potential effectiveness for broader implementation. Conclusion The current study aims to contribute to disability data collection methodologies, particularly in the context of adolescent girls and women in Bangladesh. The research seeks to empower policymakers, researchers, and advocacy groups with a robust instrument of disability screening. Researchers and clinicians may rely on our accurate and validated Washington Group Short Set Questionnaire on Functioning translation into Bangla when working with adolescent girls and women with disabilities.

A Practical Guide to Pilot Testing Community-Based Vaccination Coverage Surveys.

Pilot testing is crucial when preparing any community-based vaccination coverage survey. In this paper, we use the term pilot test to mean informative work conducted before a survey protocol has been finalized for the purpose of guiding decisions about how the work will be conducted. We summarize findings from seven pilot tests and provide practical guidance for piloting similar studies. We selected these particular pilots because they are excellent models of preliminary efforts that informed the refinement of data collection protocols and instruments. We recommend survey coordinators devote time and budget to identify aspects of the protocol where testing could mitigate project risk and ensure timely assessment yields, credible estimates of vaccination coverage and related indicators. We list specific items that may benefit from pilot work and provide guidance on how to prioritize what to pilot test when resources are limited.

Development of a Preventive Health Screening Procedure Enabling Supportive Service Planning for Home-Dwelling Older Adults (PORI75): Protocol for an Action Research Study.

BACKGROUND: In Finland, at least 1 in 4 residents will be >75 years of age in 2030. The national aging policy has emphasized the need to improve supportive services to enable older people to live in their own homes for as long as possible. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a preventive health screening procedure for home-dwelling older adults aged 75 years to enable the use of clinical patient data for purposes of strategic planning of supportive services in primary care. METHODS: The action research method was applied to develop the health screening procedure with selected validated health measures in cooperation with the local practicing interprofessional health care teams from 10 primary care centers in the Social Security Center of Pori, Western Finland (99,485 residents, n=11,938, 12% of them >75 years). The selection of evidence-based validated health measures was based on the national guide to screen factors increasing fall risk and the national functioning measures database. The cut-off points of the selected health measures and laboratory tests were determined in consecutive consensus meetings with the local primary care physicians, with decisions based on internationally validated measures, national current care guidelines, and local policies in clinical practice. RESULTS: The health screening procedure for 75-year-old residents comprised 30 measures divided into three categories: (1) validated self-assessments (9 measures), (2) nurse-conducted screenings (14 measures), and (3) laboratory tests (7 measures). The procedure development process comprised the following steps: (1) inventory and selection of the validated health measures and laboratory tests, (2) training of practical nurses to perform screenings for the segment of 75-year-old residents and to guide them to possible further medical actions, (3) creation of research data from clinical patient data for secondary use purposes, (4) secondary data analysis, and (5) consensus meeting after the pilot test of the health screening procedure for 75-year-old residents procedure in 2019 based on the experiences of health care professionals and collected research data. CONCLUSIONS: The developed preventive health screening procedure for 75-year-old residents enables the use of clinical patient data for purposes of strategic planning of supportive services in primary care if the potential bias by a low participation rate is controlled. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/48753.

Pilot testing of the International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Registry.

The International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation developed an International Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) Registry (ICRR) to support CR programs in low-resource settings to optimize care provision and patient outcomes. This study assessed implementation of the ICRR, site data steward experience with on-boarding and data entry, and patient acceptability. Multimethod observational pilot involves (I) analysis of ICRR data from three centers (Iran, Pakistan, and Qatar) from inception to May 2022, (II) focus group with on-boarded site data stewards (also from Mexico and India), and (III) semistructured interviews with participating patients. Five hundred sixty-seven patients were entered. Based on volumes at each program, 85.6% of patients were entered in ICRR. 99.3% patients approached consented to participate. The average time to enter data at pre- and follow-up assessments by source was 6.8-12.6 min. Of 22 variables preprogram, completion was 89.5%. Among patients with any follow-up data, of four program-reported variables, completion was 99.0% in program completers and 51.5% in none; of 10 patient-reported variables, completion was 97.0% in program completers and 84.8% in none. The proportion of patients with any follow-up data was 84.8% in program completers, with 43.6% of noncompleters having any data entered other than completion status. Twelve data stewards participated in the focus group. Main themes were valuable on-boarding process, data entry, process of engaging patients, and benefits of participation. Thirteen patients were interviewed. Themes were good understanding of the registry, positive experience providing data, and value of lay summary and eagerness for annual assessment. Feasibility and data quality of ICRR were demonstrated.

Evidence of the content validity, acceptability, and feasibility of a new Patient-Reported Impact of Dermatological Diseases measure.

Background: The Global Research on the Impact of Dermatological Diseases (GRIDD) team is developing the new Patient-Reported Impact of Dermatological Diseases (PRIDD) measure of the impact of dermatological conditions on the patient's life, in partnership with patients. To develop PRIDD, we conducted a systematic review, followed by a qualitative interview study with 68 patients worldwide and subsequently a global Delphi survey of 1,154 patients to ensure PRIDD items were meaningful and important to patients. Objective: To pilot test PRIDD with patients with dermatological conditions, focusing on its content validity (comprehensiveness, comprehensibility, and relevance), acceptability, and feasibility. Methods: We conducted a theory-led qualitative study using the Three-Step Test-Interview method of cognitive interviewing. Three rounds of semi-structured interviews were conducted online. Adults (≥ 18 years) living with a dermatological condition and who spoke English sufficiently to take part in the interview were recruited through the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations' (GlobalSkin) global membership network. The topic guide met the gold-standard COSMIN (Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments) standards for cognitive interviewing. Analysis followed the thematic analytical model of cognitive interviewing. Results: Twelve people (58% male) representing six dermatological conditions from four countries participated. Overall, patients found PRIDD to be comprehensible, comprehensive, relevant, acceptable, and feasible. Participants were able to discern the conceptual framework domains from the items. Feedback resulted in: the recall period being extended from 1 week to 1 month; removal of the 'not relevant' response option; and changes to the instructions and item ordering and wording to improve clarity and increase respondents' confidence in their ability to respond. These evidence-based adjustments resulted in a 26-item version of PRIDD. Conclusion: This study met the gold-standard COSMIN criteria for the pilot testing of health measurement instruments. The data triangulated our previous findings, in particular the conceptual framework of impact. Our findings illuminate how patients understand and respond to PRIDD and other patient-reported measurement instruments. The results of comprehensibility, comprehensiveness, relevance, acceptability, and feasibility of PRIDD provide evidence of content validity from the target population. The next step in the development and validation of PRIDD is psychometric testing.

A Proof-of-Concept Evaluation of the 1616 Story-Based Positive Youth Development Program.

The 1616 Program is a newly developed and evidence-informed story-based positive youth development (PYD) program for young ice hockey players (10-12 years of age) in North America. The program uses elite ice hockey players as role models-through story-telling-to serve as inspirational figures to engage youth athletes and important social agents (i.e., parents, coaches) with evidence-informed PYD concepts. The objective of this study was to use a Proof-of-Concept evaluation to assess whether the 1616 Program 'worked' in enhancing PYD outcomes and to determine if the concepts were engaging and enjoyable for youth, their parents, and coaches. The 5 week Proof-of-Concept evaluation was conducted with 11 ice hockey teams (n = 160 youths, 93 parents, and 11 coaches), encompassing both qualitative (e.g., focus groups) and quantitative (e.g., retrospective pretest-posttest questionnaires) processes and outcome assessments. Results showed that the program was well received by participants and positively impacted the intended outcomes. Overall, the data presented in this Proof-of-Concept evaluation was deemed to support the development and implementation of the full-scale 1616 Program for a more comprehensive evaluation.

The Preschool Eating, Lifestyle, and Sleeping Attitudes Scale (PRELSA Scale): Construction and Pilot Testing of a Tool to Measure Factors Associated with Childhood Obesity.

(1) Background: Childhood obesity poses a global health challenge. In the period from two to six years, the fundamental risk factors are associated with modifiable habits, related to parental attitudes. In this study, we will analyze the construction and pilot test of the PRELSA Scale, designed to be a comprehensive tool that covers the whole problem of childhood obesity, from which we can later develop a brief instrument. (2) Methods: First, we described the scale construction process. After that, we conducted a pilot test on parents to check the instrument's comprehensibility, acceptability, and feasibility. We detected items to be modified or eliminated through two criteria: the frequencies of the categories of each item and responses in the Not Understood/Confused category. Finally, we sought expert opinion through a questionnaire to ensure the content validity of the scale. (3) Results: The pilot test on parents detected 20 possible items for modification and other changes in the instrument. The experts' questionnaire showed good values on the scale's content, highlighting some feasibility problems. The final version of the scale went from 69 items to 60. (4) Conclusions: Developing scales that detect parental attitudes associated with the onset of childhood obesity may be the basis for future interventions to address this health challenge.

Mobilization pilot test of PCE sources in the transition zone to aquitards by combining mZVI and biostimulation with lactic acid.

The potential toxic and carcinogenic effects of chlorinated solvents in groundwater on human health and aquatic ecosystems require very effective remediation strategies of contaminated groundwater to achieve the low legal cleanup targets required. The transition zones between aquifers and bottom aquitards occur mainly in prograding alluvial fan geological contexts. Hence, they are very frequent from a hydrogeological point of view. The transition zone consists of numerous thin layers of fine to coarse-grained clastic fragments (e.g., medium sands and gravels), which alternate with fine-grained materials (clays and silts). When the transition zones are affected by DNAPL spills, free-phase pools accumulate on the less conductive layers. Owing to the low overall conductivity of this zone, the pools are very recalcitrant. Little field research has been done on transition zone remediation techniques. Injection of iron microparticles has the disadvantage of the limited accessibility of this reagent to reach the entire source of contamination. Biostimulation of indigenous microorganisms in the medium has the disadvantage that few of the microorganisms are capable of complete biodegradation to total mineralization of the parent contaminant and metabolites. A field pilot test was conducted at a site where a transition zone existed in which DNAPL pools of PCE had accumulated. In particular, the interface with the bottom aquitard was where PCE concentrations were the highest. In this pilot test, a combined strategy using ZVI in microparticles and biostimulation with lactate in the form of lactic acid was conducted. Throughout the test it was found that the interdependence of the coupled biotic and abiotic processes generated synergies between these processes. This resulted in a greater degradation of the PCE and its transformation products. With the combination of the two techniques, the mobilization of the contaminant source of PCE was extremely effective.

Biotrickling Filtration for the Reduction of N2O Emitted during Wastewater Treatment: Results from a Long-Term In Situ Pilot-Scale Testing.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a major source of N2O, a potent greenhouse gas with 300 times higher global warming potential than CO2. Several approaches have been proposed for mitigation of N2O emissions from WWTPs and have shown promising yet only site-specific results. Here, self-sustaining biotrickling filtration, an end-of-the-pipe treatment technology, was tested in situ at a full-scale WWTP under realistic operational conditions. Temporally varying untreated wastewater was used as trickling medium, and no temperature control was applied. The off-gas from the covered WWTP aerated section was conveyed through the pilot-scale reactor, and an average removal efficiency of 57.9 ± 29.1% was achieved during 165 days of operation despite the generally low and largely fluctuating influent N2O concentrations (ranging between 4.8 and 96.4 ppmv). For the following 60-day period, the continuously operated reactor system removed 43.0 ± 21.2% of the periodically augmented N2O, exhibiting elimination capacities as high as 5.25 g N2O m-3·h-1. Additionally, the bench-scale experiments performed abreast corroborated the resilience of the system to short-term N2O starvations. Our results corroborate the feasibility of biotrickling filtration for mitigating N2O emitted from WWTPs and demonstrate its robustness toward suboptimal field operating conditions and N2O starvation, as also supported by analyses of the microbial compositions and nosZ gene profiles.

Adding Mobile Elements to Online Physical Activity Interventions for Adults Aged Over 50 Years: Prototype Development Study.

BACKGROUND: Only a minority of adults aged over 50 years meet physical activity (PA) guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). eHealth interventions are proven effective tools to help this population increase its PA levels in the short term, among which the Active Plus and I Move interventions have been developed by our own research group. To achieve long-term effects, increase intervention use, and decrease dropout rates, 3 emergent but different mobile elements (an activity tracker, an ecological momentary intervention [EMI] program, and a chatbot) were added separately to Active Plus and I Move. In this study, the prototype development and pilot-testing of these interventions is described. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to enhance 2 existing PA-stimulating computer-based interventions with 3 mobile elements (an activity tracker, an EMI program, or a chatbot) and test the prototypes on usability and appreciation within a target population of adults aged over 50 years. METHODS: A systematic design protocol consisting of development, evaluation, and adaptation procedures was followed with involvement of the target population. Literature searches separated per mobile element and interviews with the target population (N=11) led to 6 prototypes: Active Plus or I Move including (1) an activity tracker, (2) EMI, or (3) a chatbot. These prototypes were tested on usability and appreciation during pilot tests (N=47) and subsequently fine-tuned based on the results. RESULTS: The literature searches and interviews provided important recommendations on the preferences of the target population, which enabled us to develop prototypes. The subsequent pilot tests showed that the mobile elements scored moderate to good on usability, with average System Usability Scale (SUS) scores of 52.2-82.2, and moderate to good on enjoyment and satisfaction, with average scores ranging from 5.1 to 8.1 on a scale of 1-10. The activity tracker received the best scores, followed by EMI, followed by the chatbot. Based on the findings, the activity tracker interventions were fine-tuned and technical difficulties regarding EMI and the chatbot were solved, which is expected to further improve usability and appreciation. CONCLUSIONS: During this study, 6 prototypes of online PA interventions with added mobile elements were developed and tested for usability and appreciation. Although all prototypes scored moderate to high on usability, enjoyment, and satisfaction, it can be concluded that the integration of an activity tracker with a computer-based PA intervention is the most promising option among the 3 mobile elements tested during this study. The prototype development steps of the systematic design protocol followed can be considered useful and successful for the purposes of this study. The interventions can now be evaluated on a larger scale through a randomized controlled trial. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/31677.

Acceptability and feasibility of a brief behavioral sleep intervention for youth with CF.

Youth with CF are at increased risk for physiological and behavioral sleep difficulties due to disease-specific symptoms and more general pediatric sleep challenges. Despite evidence suggesting that behavioral sleep interventions are effective for improving common sleep difficulties, no interventions exist for youth with CF. SLEEP-CF was designed to fill this gap by providing tailored, flexible behavioral sleep support to youth with CF. Results suggest that SLEEP-CF is an acceptable and feasible behavioral sleep intervention, even in a population with normative sleep habits. There may be benefit in terms of improving sleep knowledge and sleep hygiene. Technology use during and after bedtime is prevalent. CF care team members are encouraged to assess sleep as part of routine CF care, and to provide support as indicated.

Using PrEP and Doing it for Ourselves (UPDOs Protective Styles), a Web-Based Salon Intervention to Improve Uptake of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Among Black Women: Protocol for a Pilot Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Multilevel interventions are necessary to address the complex social contributors to health that limit pre-exposure prophylaxis use among Black women, including medical distrust, pre-exposure prophylaxis stigma, and access to equitable health care. Strategies to improve knowledge, awareness, and uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis among Black women will be more successful if information-sharing and implementation take place within trusted environments. Providing women with information through trusted cultural and social channels can effectively support informed decision-making about pre-exposure prophylaxis for themselves and members of their social networks who are eligible for pre-exposure prophylaxis. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this project is to improve knowledge, awareness, uptake, and trust of pre-exposure prophylaxis, as well as reduce pre-exposure prophylaxis stigma, among Black women living in the US South. METHODS: This multilevel, mixed methods study uses a community-engagement approach to develop and pilot test a salon-based intervention. There are three components of this intervention: (1) stylist training, (2) women-focused entertainment videos and modules, and (3) engagement of a pre-exposure prophylaxis navigator. First, stylist training will be provided through two 2-hour training sessions delivered over 2 consecutive weeks. We will use a pre- and posttest design to examine knowledge and awareness improvement of pre-exposure prophylaxis among the stylists. Upon full completion of training, the stylists will receive a certificate of completion and "Ask Me about PrEP" signage for their beauty salons. Second, together with the community, we have codeveloped a 4-part entertainment series (The Wright Place) that uses culturally and socially relevant stories to highlight key messages about (1) HIV, (2) pre-exposure prophylaxis, and (3) Black women's social contributors to health. Quantitative and qualitative measures will be used in a pre- and posttest design to examine pre-exposure prophylaxis knowledge, awareness, risk, stigma, trust, intentions, and women's perceptions of the usability and acceptability of the overall intervention and its implementation strategies. A video blog will be provided after each video. Third, participants will have access through an email or text message link to a pre-exposure prophylaxis navigator, who will respond to them privately to answer questions or make referrals for pre-exposure prophylaxis as requested. RESULTS: This project was funded in October 2020 by Gilead Sciences and was approved by the Duke University School of Nursing institutional review board in April 2021 (Pro00106307). Intervention components were developed in partnership with community partners in the first year. Data collection for phase 1 began in April 2022. Data collection for phase 2 began in May 2022. The study will be complete by October 2022. CONCLUSIONS: Multilevel interventions that consider the assets of the community have promise for promoting health among Black women who have influence within their social networks. The findings of this study have the potential to be generalizable to other populations. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/34556.

Strategies to improve the recruitment and retention of underserved children and families in clinical trials: A case example of a school-supervised asthma therapy pilot.

BACKGROUND: Due to underrepresentation of racial/ethnic minority and low-income groups in clinical studies, there is a call to improve the recruitment and retention of these populations in research. Pilot studies can test recruitment and retention practices for better inclusion of medically underserved children and families in subsequent clinical trials. We examined this using a school-based asthma intervention, in preparation for a larger clinical trial in which our goal is to include an underserved study population. METHODS: We recruited children with poorly controlled asthma in a two-site pilot cluster randomized controlled trial of school-supervised asthma therapy versus enhanced usual care (receipt of an educational asthma workbook). We sought a study population with a high percentage of children and families from racial/ethnic minority and low-income groups. The primary outcome of the pilot trial was recruitment/retention over 12 months. Strategies used to facilitate recruitment/retention of this study population included engaging pre-trial multi-level stakeholders, selecting trial sites with high percentages of underserved children and families, training diverse medical providers to recruit participants, conducting remote trial assessments, and providing multi-lingual study materials. RESULTS: Twenty-six children [42.3% female, 11.5% Black, 30.8% Multiracial (Black & other), 76.9% Hispanic, and 92.3% with family income below $40,000] and their caregivers were enrolled in the study, which represents 55.3% of those initially referred by their provider, with 96.2%, 92.3%, and 96.2% retention at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSION: Targeted strategies facilitated the inclusion of a medically underserved population of children and families in our pilot study, prior to expanding to a larger trial.

A Smoking Cessation Mobile App for Persons Living With HIV: Preliminary Efficacy and Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of smoking in the United States general population has gradually declined to the lowest rate ever recorded; however, this has not been true for persons with HIV. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a pilot test to assess the feasibility and efficacy of the Lumme Quit Smoking mobile app and smartwatch combination with sensing capabilities to improve smoking cessation in persons with HIV. METHODS: A total of 40 participants were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned 1:1 to the control arm, which received an 8-week supply of nicotine replacement therapy, a 30-minute smoking cessation counseling session, and weekly check-in calls with study staff, or to the intervention arm, which additionally received the Lumme Quit Smoking app and smartwatch. RESULTS: Of the 40 participants enrolled, 37 completed the follow-up study assessments and 16 used the app every day during the 56-day period. During the 6-month recruitment and enrollment period, 122 people were screened for eligibility, with 67.2% (82/122) deemed ineligible. Smoking criteria and incompatible tech were the major reasons for ineligibility. There was no difference in the proportion of 7-day point prevalence abstinence by study arm and no significant decrease in exhaled carbon monoxide for the intervention and control arms separately. However, the average exhaled carbon monoxide decreased over time when analyzing both arms together (P=.02). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest excellent feasibility and acceptability of using a smoking sensor app among this smoking population. The knowledge gained from this research will enable the scientific community, clinicians, and community stakeholders to improve tobacco cessation outcomes for persons with HIV. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04808609; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04808609.

Dataset of coal bio-gasification and coalbed methane stimulation by single well nutrition injection in Qinshui anthracite coalbed methane wells.

In-situ coal bio-gasification can be defined as one of the coal bio-mining methodology that fully utilizes the methanogenic bacteria in coal to review the current findings, namely anaerobic digestion of organic components. The following experiment has been done in regards, one vertical well and one multi-branch horizontal well were used as experiment wells and two vertical wells were used as control wells, the pilot test was carried out with single well nutrition injection method. By applying the above mentioned method, the concentration of Cl- ion and number altered in Methanogen spp. were used to trace nutrition diffusion. Furthermore, technical implementation results analysis has been made with the observation of CH4 production changes and coal bed biome evolution. Gas production rates in each well were monitored by using the FLLQ gas roots flow mete. The concentration of CH4 and CO2 were evaluated by using the Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph, on the other hand, concentrations of Cl- were determined by the application of ICS-1100 ion chromatography system. The F420 fluorescence method was adopted to test for the presence of methanogenic bacteria. In the interim of the completion stage, the study stated that the bacterial diversity of underground water of Z-7H well has a high pass sequence with the experimental period of 814 days. Gas production data in Z-159 and Z-7H wells showed the gasification of coal lasted 635 and 799 days, yielded 74817 m3 and 251754 m3 coalbed methane, respectively. Furthermore, experimental data presented that one time nutrition injection in anthracite coalbed methane wells achieved an average of 717 days of continuous gas production among all experimental wells. The above fore-said study dedicated the significance of native bacterial fermentation, as it proven the fact that anthracite can be applied to accomplish coal bio-gasification and coalbed methane production stimulation in-situ.

A dose optimization method of disinfection units and synergistic effects of combined disinfection in pilot tests.

The increasing requirement for reclaimed water has made it necessary to utilize multiple disinfection processes for efficient removal of organoleptic indicators, while guaranteeing microbial safety. However, there is not a proper way to appropriately distribute the operation load between different disinfection units. This study provides a new method to optimize doses of sequential ozonation, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and chlorine disinfection units, and investigates the synergistic effects of combined disinfection on the basis of pilot tests. In this method, the minimal ozone dose is determined first for the removal of colority. The chlorine dose is then adjusted according to the required residual chlorine. At last, since it has few side effects and relatively low operating costs, UV dose is determined by the remaining requirement of microbial indicator reduction. By this method, the effluent of disinfection could meet the discharge standards of colority, residual chlorine, and microbial indicators. The operating cost was reduced by 48.7%, mainly by lowering the ozone dosage. The production of disinfection by-products (DBPs) was effectively controlled by decreasing the chlorine dosage compared with the original working conditions in the plant. Moreover, ozone pretreatment effectively improved the coliform inactivation efficiency of chlorine, and the combined disinfection method alleviated the tailing phenomenon and achieved a higher maximum log reduction of coliforms. The proposed method can help water reclamation plants reasonably determine operational loads between disinfection units with low cost and guaranteed performance.