BLR: Beacon-Less Routing Algorithm for Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks

Routing of packets in a mobile ad-hoc network with a large number... this paper is a routing protocol that makes use of location information to reduce routing overhead. However, unlike other position-based routing protocols, BLR does not require nodes to periodically broadcast Hello-messages (called beaconing), and thus avoids drawbacks such as extensive use of scarce battery-power, interferences with regular data transmission, and performance degradation. BLR selects a forwarding node in a distributed manner among all its neighboring nodes with having information neither about their positions nor even about their existence. Data packets are broadcasted and the protocol takes care that just one of the receiving nodes forwards the packet. Optimized forwarding is achieved by applying a concept of Dynamic Forwarding Delay (DFD). Consequently, the node which computes the shortest forwarding delay relays the packet first. This forwarding is detected by the other nodes and suppresses them to relay the same packet any further. Analytical results and simulation experiments indicate that BLR provides efficient and robust routing in highly dynamic mobile ad-hoc networks

Does an Internet-Based Emotion Regulation Intervention Provide Added Value for Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Care? Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

BACKGROUND There is a lack of studies on internet-based interventions in inpatient settings. This is especially true for studies of internet-based interventions in acute psychiatric inpatient care. Internet-based interventions in this specific setting may provide benefits such as patient empowerment and overall improved treatment outcomes. However, there may also be specific barriers to their implementation that are unique due to the complexity of acute psychiatric inpatient care. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility and preliminary evidence for effectiveness of a web-based emotion regulation intervention provided as an add-on to acute psychiatric inpatient care. METHODS The goal is to randomly allocate 60 patients with a range of different diagnoses in a 1:1 ratio to either treatment as usual (TAU), which consists of acute psychiatric inpatient treatment, or to the intervention group, which will receive TAU plus access to a web-based intervention that focuses on reduction of emotion regulation difficulties and improvement of emotion regulation skills. The primary outcome is symptom severity, assessed with the short form of the Brief Symptom Inventory at baseline, after 4 weeks, after 8 weeks, and at hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes include 2 emotion regulation parameters, intervention use, usability, patient satisfaction, and reasons for patient loss to follow-up. RESULTS Participant recruitment started in August 2021 and as of March 2023 was ongoing. First publication of study results is expected in 2024. CONCLUSIONS This study protocol describes a study that intends to examine a web-based emotion regulation intervention in acute psychiatric inpatient care. The study will provide information on the feasibility of the intervention and possible effects on symptom severity and emotion regulation. The results will provide new insights on blended treatment, in this case the combination of a web-based intervention and face-to-face psychiatric treatment, in an understudied patient group and setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04990674; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04990674. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/47656

Two sides of the same coin? Patient and therapist experiences with a transdiagnostic blended intervention focusing on emotion regulation.

Introduction The combination of internet-based intervention and psychotherapy, commonly termed blended therapy (BT), has gained popularity in recent years. While advantages and disadvantages of BT have been identified from the patient and therapist perspective, the two perspectives have rarely been examined within the same treatment. Moreover, almost all available research on patient and therapist experiences with BT is disorder-specific. This study aimed to investigate patient and therapist experiences within the same transdiagnostic BT. Methods A qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with eight patients and eight therapists taking part in a transdiagnostic blended intervention focusing on the topic of emotion regulation was conducted. A qualitative content analysis approach was used. Category frequencies were calculated and similarities and differences between the patient and therapist experience were explored. Results Ten main themes and 59 subthemes were identified in the category system for patient interviews and ten main themes and 50 subthemes were identified in the category system for therapist interviews. Similarities and differences between the two perspectives were reported with regard to 1) expectations toward the intervention, 2) the internet-based intervention, 3) symptomatology and emotion regulation, 4) the therapeutic relationship and 5) the blended format. Conclusion This study provides first insights on the experiences with transdiagnostic BT focusing on emotion regulation. Based on the results, different recommendations for the improvement of transdiagnostic BT are made. Future research on patient and therapist experiences with transdiagnostic BT is necessary, in order to further improve the experience of those involved

Blood pressure normalization-independent cardioprotective effects of endogenous, physical activity-induced alpha Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (αCGRP) in chronically hypertensive mice

Rationale: α-calcitonin gene related peptide (αCGRP), one of the strongest vasodilators, is cardioprotective in hypertension by reducing the elevated blood pressure (BP). Objective: However, we hypothesize that endogenous, physical activity-induced αCGRP has BP-independent cardioprotective effects in chronic hypertension. MMethods and Results: Chronically hypertensive (one-kidney-one-clip surgery) WT and αCGRP-/- sedentary or voluntary wheel running mice were treated with vehicle, αCGRP, or the αCGRP receptor antagonist CGRP8-37. Cardiac function and myocardial phenotype were evaluated echocardiographically and by molecular, cellular and histological analysis, respectively. BP was similar among all hypertensive experimental groups. Endogenous αCGRP limited pathological remodeling and heart failure in sedentary, chronically hypertensive WT mice. In these mice, voluntary wheel running significantly improved myocardial phenotype and function, which was abolished by CGRP8-37 treatment. In αCGRP-/- mice, αCGRP treatment, in contrast to voluntary wheel running, improved myocardial phenotype and function. Specific inhibition of proliferation and myofibroblast differentiation of primary, murine cardiac fibroblasts by αCGRP suggests involvement of these cells in αCGRP-dependent blunting of pathological cardiac remodeling. Conclusions: Endogenous, physical activity-induced αCGRP has BP-independent cardioprotective effects and is crucial for maintaining cardiac function in chronic hypertension. Consequently, inhibiting endogenous αCGRP signaling, as currently approved for migraine prophylaxis, could endanger hypertensive patients

CGRP receptor antagonism in COVID-19: potential cardiopulmonary adverse effects

Recently, the US FDA has authorized a drug repurposing trial with calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists to reduce lung inflammation in coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). However, the well-established cardiopulmonary protective effects of CGRP raise concerns about the safety of antagonizing CGRP in COVID-19. Awareness regarding potential cardiopulmonary adverse effects may enable their early detection and prevent illness from worsening

Optimized stateless broadcasting in wireless multi-hop networks

Abstract — In this paper we present a simple and stateles