Optimal control of distributed generators and capacitors by hybrid DPSO

In this paper, a comprehensive planning methodology is proposed that can minimize the line loss, maximize the reliability and improve the voltage profile in a distribution network. The injected active and reactive power of Distributed Generators (DG) and the installed capacitor sizes at different buses and for different load levels are optimally controlled. The tap setting of HV/MV transformer along with the line and transformer upgrading is also included in the objective function. A hybrid optimization method, called Hybrid Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization (HDPSO), is introduced to solve this nonlinear and discrete optimization problem. The proposed HDPSO approach is a developed version of DPSO in which the diversity of the optimizing variables is increased using the genetic algorithm operators to avoid trapping in local minima. The objective function is composed of the investment cost of DGs, capacitors, distribution lines and HV/MV transformer, the line loss, and the reliability. All of these elements are converted into genuine dollars. Given this, a single-objective optimization method is sufficient. The bus voltage and the line current as constraints are satisfied during the optimization procedure. The IEEE 18-bus test system is modified and employed to evaluate the proposed algorithm. The results illustrate the unavoidable need for optimal control on the DG active and reactive power and capacitors in distribution networks

How and to what extent did the Coventry City of Culture 'City Host' volunteer programme effect the volunteers' mental wellbeing?:A qualitative study

Abstract Background A team of volunteers, known as City Hosts, were recruited to support UK City of Culture 2021 awarded to Coventry. City Hosts held various roles facilitating cultural event delivery and promoting a positive experience for visitors. This study aimed to (i) understand how and to what extent the volunteering programme impacted volunteer subjective wellbeing, and (ii) explore the mechanisms of change and intermediate outcomes between volunteering and subjective wellbeing. Methods This qualitative study comprised inductive and deductive analysis of data collected through semi-structured interviews, conducted between December 2021–May 2022 with City Hosts. This was complimented with secondary qualitative analysis of free text responses within Monitoring and Evaluation data collected from City Hosts in surveys conducted in August and November 2021, and April 2022. Results Approximately 180 City Hosts responded to the free text questions in each survey and 27 completed interviews. Analysis of data collected from City Hosts suggested positive wellbeing impacts from volunteering and supported theorised pathways to improved wellbeing. Strengths of the City Host programme included (i) facilitating the full range of mechanisms of change that mediate improved volunteer wellbeing, particularly promoting social connections and developing a strong role and group identity and (ii) flexibility around what volunteers do, how much, and how often. Conclusions This study offers lessons for others designing volunteering programmes who wish to promote wellbeing among associated volunteers. We also offer evidence that exposure to culture may be one mechanism by which volunteering can improve wellbeing

Health inequalities and infectious diseases : a rapid review of reviews

Executive summary: Public Health England (PHE) commissioned a team, led from University of Warwick, to conduct a review to describe the existing health inequalities presented in the academic literature, relating to key infectious disease topics in the United Kingdom (UK). For this work, PHE had specific interest in three dimensions of inequalities: protected characteristics, socioeconomic inequalities, and inclusion health groups (specifically, vulnerable migrants, people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping, people who engage in sex work, and Gypsy Roma and Traveller communities). The infectious disease topics of interest were tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Hepatitis C (HCV), vaccination, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). We conducted a rapid overview of reviews to identify and synthesise existing reviews which have explored inequalities in the topics of interest, relevant to the UK. Key findings: We identified 84 reviews that explored inequalities in at least one of the three dimensions of interest. The reviews spanned through all the specified infectious diseases and more (Figure E1). The methodological quality of the included reviews varied significantly based on the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews version 2 (AMSTAR2) criteria. Only 14% explicitly reported preregistered protocol, 22% had a comprehensive literature search strategy, 29% performed risk of bias of included studies, 46% accounted for risk of bias while interpreting the results of the review and 69% provided satisfactory explanation for and discussion of heterogeneity observed in the findings of the review. Only about 49% of the reviews performed meta-analysis. However, 98% of those that performed meta-analyses used appropriate methods, 54% assessed the impact of risk of bias on the results of meta-analysis and 46% performed adequate assessment of the presence and likely impact of publication bias

The influence of the urban food environment on diet, nutrition and health outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries: A systematic review

Introduction: Diet and nutrition are leading causes of global morbidity and mortality. Our study aimed to identify and synthesise evidence on the association between food environment characteristics and diet, nutrition and health outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), relevant to urban settings, to support development and implementation of appropriate interventions.Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of 9 databases from 1 January 2000 to 16 September 2020 with no language restrictions. We included original peer-reviewed observational studies, intervention studies or natural experiments conducted in at least one urban LMIC setting and reporting a quantitative association between a characteristic of the food environment and a diet, nutrition or health outcome. Study selection was done independently in duplicate. Data extraction and quality appraisal using the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute checklists were completed based on published reports using a prepiloted form on Covidence. Data were synthesised narratively.Results: 74 studies met eligibility criteria. Consistent evidence reported an association between availability characteristics in the neighbourhood food environment and dietary behaviour (14 studies, 10 rated as good quality), while the balance of evidence suggested an association with health or nutrition outcomes (17 of 24 relevant studies). We also found a balance of evidence that accessibility to food in the neighbourhood environment was associated with diet (10 of 11 studies) although evidence of an association with health outcomes was contradictory. Evidence on other neighbourhood food environment characteristics was sparse and mixed. Availability in the school food environment was also found to be associated with relevant outcomes. Studies investigating our other primary outcomes in observational studies of the school food environment were sparse, but most interventional studies were situated in schools. We found very little evidence on how workplace and home food environments are associated with relevant outcomes. This is a substantial evidence gap.Conclusion: \u27Zoning\u27 or \u27healthy food cart\u27 interventions to alter food availability may be appropriate in urban LMIC.Prospero registration number: CRD42020207475

Evidence and methods required to evaluate the impact for patients who use social prescribing : a rapid systematic review and qualitative interviews

Background Social prescribing encourages health-care and other professionals to refer patients to a link worker, who will develop a personalised plan to improve the patient’s health and well-being. We explore the feasibility of evaluating the service. Objective The objective was to answer the following research questions. (1) What are the most important evaluation questions that an impact study could investigate? (2) What data are already available at a local or national level and what else would be needed? (3) Are there sites delivering at a large enough scale and in a position to take part in an impact study? (4) How could the known challenges to evaluation (e.g. information governance and identifying a control group) be addressed? Data sources Data sources included MEDLINE ALL (via Ovid), searched from inception to 14 February 2019, and the first 100 hits of a Google (Google Inc., Mountain View, CA, USA) search. Review methods Rapid systematic review – electronic searches up to February 2019. Studies included any study design or outcomes. Screening was conducted by one reviewer; eligibility assessment and data extraction were undertaken by two reviewers. Data were synthesised narratively. Qualitative interviews – data from 25 participants in different regions of England were analysed using a pragmatic framework approach across 12 areas including prior data collection, delivery sites, scale and processes of current service delivery, and known challenges to evaluation. Views of key stakeholders (i.e. patients and academics) were captured. Results Rapid systematic review – 27 out of 124 studies were included. We identified outcomes and highlighted research challenges. Important evaluation questions included identification of the most appropriate (1) outcomes and (2) methods for dealing with heterogeneity. Qualitative interviews – social prescribing programmes are holistic in nature, covering domains such as social isolation and finance. Service provision is heterogeneous. The follow-on services that patients access are often underfunded or short term. Available data – there was significant heterogeneity in data availability, format and follow-up. Data were collected using a range of tools in ad hoc databases across sites. Non-attendance data were frequently not captured. Service users are more deprived and vulnerable than the overall practice population. Feasibility and potential limitations of an evaluation – current data collection is limited in determining the effectiveness of the link worker social prescribing model; therefore, uniform data collection across sites is needed. Standardised outcomes and process measures are required. Cost–utility analysis could provide comparative values for assessment alongside other NHS interventions. Limitations This was a rapid systematic review that did not include a systematic quality assessment of studies. COVID-19 had an impact on the shape of the service. We were not able to examine the potential causal mechanisms in any detail. Conclusions We describe possible future research approaches to determine effectiveness and cost-effectiveness evaluations; all are limited in their application. (1) Evaluation using currently available, routinely collected health-care, costing and outcomes data. (2) Evaluative mixed-methods research to capture the complexity of social prescribing through understanding heterogeneous service delivery across comparative settings. Cost-effectiveness evaluation using routinely available costing and outcomes data to supplement qualitative data. (3) Interventional evaluative research, such as a cluster randomised controlled trial focused on the link worker model. Cost-effectiveness data collected as part of the trial. Future work Mature data are currently not available. There needs to be an agreement across schemes on the key outcomes that need to be measured, harmonisation of data collection, and follow-up referrals (how and when). Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme and will be published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 10, No. 29. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information

Addressing the Burden and Management Strategies for Disparities and Inequities Among Liver Transplant Professionals: The ILTS Experience.

Medical professional environments are becoming increasingly multicultural, international, and diverse in terms of its specialists. Many transplant professionals face challenges related to gender, sexual orientation or racial background in their work environment or experience inequities involving access to leadership positions, professional promotion, and compensation. These circumstances not infrequently become a major source of work-related stress and burnout for these disadvantaged, under-represented transplant professionals. In this review, we aim to 1) discuss the current perceptions regarding disparities among liver transplant providers 2) outline the burden and impact of disparities and inequities in the liver transplant workforce 3) propose potential solutions and role of professional societies to mitigate inequities and maximize inclusion within the transplant community

What is the best way to evaluate social prescribing? A qualitative feasibility assessment for a national impact evaluation study in England

Objectives Despite significant investment in social prescribing in England over the last decade, we still do not know if it works, or how models of social prescribing fit within wider health and care policy and practice. This study explores current service delivery structures and assesses the feasibility of a national evaluation of the link worker model. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted between May and September 2020, with 25 key informants from across social prescribing services in England. Participants included link workers, voluntary, community and social enterprise staff, and those involved in policy and decision-making for social prescribing services. Interview and workshop transcripts were analysed thematically, adopting a framework approach. Results We found differences in how services are provided, including by individual link workers, and between organisations and regions. Standards, referral pathways, reporting, and monitoring structures differ or are lacking in voluntary services as compared to clinical services. People can self-refer to a link worker or be referred by a third party, but the lack of standardised processes generated confusion in both public and professional perceptions of the link worker model. We identified challenges in determining the appropriate outcomes and outcome measures needed to assess the impact of the link worker model. Conclusions The current varied service delivery structures in England poses major challenges for a national impact evaluation. Any future rigorous evaluation needs to be underpinned with national standardised outcomes and process measures which promote uniform data collection

Detection of terahertz frequency radiation via the photothermoelastic response of zincblende crystals

We present experimental evidence for a photothermoelastic response in zincblende crystals illuminated by quantum cascade laser sources in the frequency range 2.2–2.9 THz. Results obtained using an optically balanced sampling arrangement indicate a mechanism whereby the stress distribution established through localized heating of the crystal induces a change in optical birefringence via the photoelastic response of the crystal. A full mathematic model of this photothermoelastic mechanism in (110)-orientated crystals is presented, and shown to agree well with experimental measurements of the magnitude, and the orientational and spatial dependencies of the sampled signal in ZnTe and GaP crystals

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Lithium Suppresses Astrogliogenesis by Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells by Inhibiting STAT3 Pathway Independently of Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta

Transplanted neural stem and progenitor cells (NSCs) produce mostly astrocytes in injured spinal cords. Lithium stimulates neurogenesis by inhibiting GSK3b (glycogen synthetase kinase 3-beta) and increasing WNT/beta catenin. Lithium suppresses astrogliogenesis but the mechanisms were unclear. We cultured NSCs from subventricular zone of neonatal rats and showed that lithium reduced NSC production of astrocytes as well as proliferation of glia restricted progenitor (GRP) cells. Lithium strongly inhibited STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) activation, a messenger system known to promote astrogliogenesis and cancer. Lithium abolished STAT3 activation and astrogliogenesis induced by a STAT3 agonist AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-beta-D-ribofuranoside), suggesting that lithium suppresses astrogliogenesis by inhibiting STAT3. GSK3β inhibition either by a specific GSK3β inhibitor SB216763 or overexpression of GID5-6 (GSK3β Interaction Domain aa380 to 404) did not suppress astrogliogenesis and GRP proliferation. GSK3β inhibition also did not suppress STAT3 activation. Together, these results indicate that lithium inhibits astrogliogenesis through non-GSK3β-mediated inhibition of STAT. Lithium may increase efficacy of NSC transplants by increasing neurogenesis and reducing astrogliogenesis. Our results also may explain the strong safety record of lithium treatment of manic depression. Millions of people take high-dose (>1 gram/day) lithium carbonate for a lifetime. GSK3b inhibition increases WNT/beta catenin, associated with colon and other cancers. STAT3 inhibition may reduce risk for cancer