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Bolted joints frequently experience loosening in vibrating environments, posing a threat to structural safety. Therefore, quantitatively assessing bolt loosening is critical. This study reveals the correlation between bolt preload and acoustic emission (AE) signal characteristics at the connection interface under vibration, establishing a method for quantitatively assessing the tightening state of bolted joints. First, an AE testing platform was constructed to capture AE signals across varying preload forces, enabling the calculation of frequency and energy parameters. Next, leveraging the relationship between these AE characteristics and preload force, a loosening index was developed to quantitatively assess the extent of bolt loosening. Finally, a quantitative AE-based assessment method and workflow for evaluating bolted joint status were developed, allowing for effective assessment of the full transition from tightened to loosened states. This approach provides a valuable tool for detecting bolt loosening and monitoring structural health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work attempts to define metrics for hydrodynamic exposure, using known oceanographic variables to provide a universal site assessment method for mariculture structures. Understanding environmental conditions driving open-ocean mariculture siting is crucial in establishing consistent ocean governance, minimizing adverse environmental impacts, and facilitating economically sustainable farm operations. To provide a metric of oceanic conditions and associated requirements for structural design and operation of aquaculture systems, six Exposure Indices (EI) are proposed that consider physical energy levels related to hydrodynamic forces at a site. Four of the proposed indices consider only environmental conditions, while the other two also consider the dimensions of the gear that is exposed to the external loads. These indices are: Exposure Velocity (EV), Exposure Velocity at Reference Depth (EVRD), Specific Exposure Energy (SEE), Depth-integrated Energy Flux (DEF), Structure-centered Depth-integrated Energy (SDE), and a Structure-centered Drag-to-Buoyancy Ratio (SDBR). While these indices are derived with a focus on aquaculture structures, they may also have applications for estimating biological stressors and operational challenges. The proposed exposure indices were evaluated for a range of known aquaculture sites around the world. A sensitivity analysis was conducted that quantified the relationship between the exposure indices and storm event return period. At a regional scale, hindcast numerical data for the German Bight combined with calculations of 50-year extreme values were used to calculate and map each proposed index spatially. Resulting maps showed that exposure is not simply a function of distance from shore. The six indices show plausible performance regarding the objective assessment of aquaculture sites. The authors herein present the indices to the aquaculture and ocean engineering communities for discussion, application, and potential adoption of one or more of the proposed indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

REDD+ is a UN-backed framework aimed at reducing carbon emissions in developing countries through sustainable forest management and the protection and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. These are key goals for the international community to achieve climate change mitigation through forestry. REDD+ programs deliver carbon, environmentally based, and social benefits through incentives provided to local societies. This study focuses on a quantitative assessment of the REDD+ framework from the perspective of localized socio-economic shifts. The drivers–pressures–state–impact and partial least squares–structural equation models were employed to evaluate impacts of socio-economic change on multiple REDD+ benefits and their influential factors in the tropical rainforests of Xishuangbanna, China. The results revealed that land-use changes form essential and complex links between socio-economic and eco-environmental changes. Socio-economic shifts in the recent twenty years in Xishuangbanna impacted carbon emissions mainly through land-use change (impact coefficient = 0.909), which was nearly three times the impact of land-use change on environmental degradation (0.322) and more than twice its impact on social benefits (0.363). Such unbalanced impacts suggest a need to optimize local policies through contextualized measures in a way that effectively addresses livelihood improvements, enhancing carbon storage and environmental services to achieve REDD+ targets in the tropical rainforests of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective SNOMED CT provides a standardized terminology for clinical concepts, allowing cohort queries over heterogeneous clinical data including Electronic Health Records (EHRs). While it is intuitive that missing and inaccurate subtype (or is-a) relations in SNOMED CT reduce the recall and precision of cohort queries, the extent of these impacts has not been formally assessed. This study fills this gap by developing quantitative metrics to measure these impacts and performing statistical analysis on their significance. Material and Methods We used the Optum de-identified COVID-19 Electronic Health Record dataset. We defined micro-averaged and macro-averaged recall and precision metrics to assess the impact of missing and inaccurate is-a relations on cohort queries. Both practical and simulated analyses were performed. Practical analyses involved 407 missing and 48 inaccurate is-a relations confirmed by domain experts, with statistical testing using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Simulated analyses used two random sets of 400 is-a relations to simulate missing and inaccurate is-a relations. Results Wilcoxon signed-rank tests from both practical and simulated analyses (P -values <.001) showed that missing is-a relations significantly reduced the micro- and macro-averaged recall, and inaccurate is-a relations significantly reduced the micro- and macro-averaged precision. Discussion The introduced impact metrics can assist SNOMED CT maintainers in prioritizing critical hierarchical defects for quality enhancement. These metrics are generally applicable for assessing the quality impact of a terminology's subtype hierarchy on its cohort query applications. Conclusion Our results indicate a significant impact of missing and inaccurate is-a relations in SNOMED CT on the recall and precision of cohort queries. Our work highlights the importance of high-quality terminology hierarchy for cohort queries over EHR data and provides valuable insights for prioritizing quality improvements of SNOMED CT's hierarchy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, resilience has become an indispensable aspect to be considered when managing supply chains given to the recent challenges they were subjected to, and a constituting element of their sustainability. However, despite literature on supply chain resilience is copious, tools for quantifying the resilience of a business are lacking, especially when dealing with the a priori resilience of a system, since several assessments are a posteriori carried out, after a disruption has manifested. In response, an analytic quantitative model is here proposed, whose output is a Global Resilience Index for a company. The model is divided into 3 phases: Supply (8 factors), Production (12 factors) and Distribution (5 factors); these elements were derived from literature and semi-structured interviews with practitioners. The logical functioning of the model is based on weighted averages attributed to each single factor; for defining the weights a survey was sent, in which respondents had to express their opinion with reference to the perceived impact of those factors on resilience. For validating the model, it was implemented in three companies manufacturing the following products: fresh milk, ginseng coffee and vegetable preserves. Despite none of them reached the higher resilience level, results offer interesting insights for let the users understand where the system is weaker. This model is intended to be made available to those who desire to include the resilience assessment to manage operational decisions; moreover, this value could be included in a wider sustainability assessment of a business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cleanliness of hydrogen energy throughout its life cycle has enabled its applications in transportation and buildings. However, such scenarios often involve the storage and use of hydrogen in enclosed spaces. Ensuring the facility's safety during hydrogen accidental leakage through rapid detection and emergency measures has been a long-standing topic. In this work, we analyze hydrogen leakage in a hydrogen bus through CFD simulation. By extracting the hydrogen diffusion time and combining it with the leakage frequency and ignition probability, we quantitatively evaluate the placement of the sensors and propose an index for detection system assessment named the average detection delay index (ADDI). A near-field detection sensor was introduced to the system, which reduced the lower ADDI limit of the detection system by up to 10 times while reducing the system cost without changing the level of performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Debris flow blocking river is a common mountain disaster chain, and however, there is a scarcity of quantitative approaches for assessing this particular disaster chain. To tackle this issue, we have developed a mathematical model using the framework of depth-averaged theory and its associated computational method. The model effectively captures the multistage process of debris flow blocking river at a catchment scale. It encompasses the dynamics of runoff, debris flow, and the river, ensuring the transfer of mass and momentum throughout the entire chain. To facilitate a more intuitive transition between the various secondary induced disasters associated with debris flow blocking river, two additional state variables are introduced. The presented computing method solves the model equations by integrating an HLLC Riemann solver into a second-order accurate finite volume method. To validate the effectiveness of this approach, two laboratory experiments and the 2020 Meilong debris flow blocking river event are simulated, and the obtained results are consistent with the available data. Moreover, this approach is employed to estimate the impact of scission on the chain process of debris flow blocking river. The simulated results showcase whether the transition between the various sub-disasters can successfully transpire under the influence of chain scission. This study can provide a basis for quantitatively assessing the chain process of debris flow blocking river as well as finding the optimization scheme to prevent this disaster chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitatively distinguishing between climate change and anthropogenic activities is crucial for flood management in the middle‐lower reaches of the Yangtze River (MLRYR). However, the quantitative contribution of climate change and anthropogenic activities to flood occurrences in the region over long time scales (spanning more than one climatic state) and across extensive spatial areas remains unclear. This study aims to address such issue by analysing runoff data from 12 hydrological stations in the MLRYR from 1961 to 2020. By combining the Peak Over Threshold (POT) method with the detection of flood event initiation and termination days, we analysed changes in mean annual flood duration days (MAFD) across two distinct periods: 1961–1987 (Phase I) and 2001–2020 (Phase II). Our results demonstrate a significant positive correlation between precipitation and flood in the MLRYR throughout the study period, though this correlation is weaker in Phase II compared to Phase I. By applying the double mass curve method, we quantified the contributions of climate change and anthropogenic activities to changes in MAFD in the MLRYR, comparing the period of rapid urbanisation since the 21st century to Phase I, when urbanisation was at its initial stage. The results indicate that anthropogenic activities have significantly suppressed average annual flood occurrences in Phase II, with contribution rates ranging from 118% to 199%. Conversely, changes in precipitation have positively influenced flood occurrences in Phase II, with contribution rates ranging from 18% to 99%. The extensive construction of hydraulic engineering has played a crucial role in regulating the runoff of the main and tributary rivers in the MLRYR, thereby weakening the precipitation–flood relations since the 21st century. This study suggests that the continued construction of hydraulic engineering in the MLRYR may remain a crucial measure for mitigating the increased flood risks associated with global warming and accelerated urbanisation in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rheological model is proposed that captures the performance loss and properties of a potential subsequent recovery of socio-technical systems subject to arbitrary disruptions. The model facilitates the quantitative assessment of such systems' resilience. While most models known from the literature describe systems that fully recover from aforementioned load events, the proposed model can capture also permanent performance loss or post disruption improvement. To demonstrate the versatility of the approach for a wide range of the socio-technical system spectrum, the model is applied to three systems: the frequency stability of the continental Europe power grid, flight operations of German airports, and the revenue of the German gastronomic sector. Fitting the proposed two-spring, one-damper, single-degree-of-freedom model to the recorded performance data determines relevant parameters which serve as a quantitative measure of the respective system's resilience. The small set of model parameters can be associated with relevant resilience dimensions. Variation of these parameters allows to quantitively determine the change of the model's response to the load events, and thus of the resilience predicted by the model. This allows to identify parameter ranges in which the model predicts, e.g., full recovery of a system, instead of permanent performance loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving the targets and indicators outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) presents significant global challenges, particularly in countries like Serbia, where diverse socio-economic contexts and policy planning shape educational outcomes. SDG4 focuses on providing inclusive and fair access to quality education for everyone and encourages lifelong learning opportunities for people of all ages. It comprises ten specific targets. This paper focuses on the complexities and challenges associated with measuring five of these targets, which were not analyzed in Serbia's official report on SDGs. By using Serbia as a case study, the paper systematically examines national policies, educational data, and assessment frameworks, identifying persistent barriers that impede progress toward the SDG4 objectives. A comparative analysis was conducted to better understand Serbia's progress in achieving these targets. This analysis compares Serbia's performance with that of neighboring countries in the region as well as with more developed nations. Methodological limitations in data collection and monitoring further complicate efforts to accurately assess SDG 4 indicators. Through specific examples of non-measurable indicators, the paper illustrates these challenges and explores potential strategies for improving measurement accuracy and policy effectiveness. By evaluating Serbia's experience, this study offers insights that are valuable for finding ways to start measuring targets that currently lack data, considering the close deadline for achieving the goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the visual estimation of systolic left ventricular function by experienced examiners closely aligns with quantitative methodologies, the accuracy of visual estimation in determining the severity of valvular regurgitation using colour flow Doppler assessment of native heart valves remains largely unexplored. This study analysed the ability of 262 physicians to visually estimate the severity of 12 native valve regurgitations by grading colour Doppler transthoracic echocardiography loops in an online questionnaire. The assessments of the participants were compared to standardized quantitative evaluations conducted by certified echocardiography experts. Of the three valves to assess, evaluations by the participants showed the best correlation (Rs = 0.75, p < 0.0001) and agreement (percent agreement: 66.4%) with those of the experts in mitral valve regurgitation (MR). High agreement was observed for mild regurgitation across all valves (MR 94.5%, AR 80.3% and TR 88.7%), while consensus diminished in moderate (MR 55.9%, AR 49.5% and TR 55.0%) and severe regurgitation (MR 57.6%, AR 67.4%, TR 14.6%). The study underscores the potential utility of visual estimation of valvular regurgitation in clinical settings for identifying clinically relevant regurgitations. However, our findings also highlight the importance of integrating visual estimation with quantitative methods, particularly in moderate and severe cases of regurgitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many machine learning (ML)-based detection methods for interpreting ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data of concrete tunnels require extensive labeled damage-state data for model training, limiting their practical use in concealed damage detection of in-service tunnels. This study presents a probabilistic, data-driven method for GPR-based damage detection, which exempts the requirement in the training process of supervised ML models. The approach involves extracting a radar feature vector (RFV), building a Bayesian baseline model with healthy data, and quantifying damage severity with the Bayes factor. The RFV is a complex vector obtained by radargram data fusion. Bayesian regression is applied to build a model for the relationship between real and imaginary parts of the RFV. The Bayes factor is employed for defect identification and severity assessment, by quantifying the difference between the RFV built with new observations and the baseline RFV predicted by the baseline model with new input. The probability of damage is calculated to reflect the influence of uncertainties on the detection result. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through simulated data with random noise and physical model tests. This method facilitates GPR-based hidden damage detection of in-service tunnels when lacking labeled damage-state data in the model training process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work attempts to define metrics for hydrodynamic exposure, using known oceanographic variables to provide a universal site assessment method for mariculture structures. Understanding environmental conditions driving openocean mariculture siting is crucial in establishing consistent ocean governance, minimizing adverse environmental impacts, and facilitating economically sustainable farm operations. To provide a metric of oceanic conditions and associated requirements for structural design and operation of aquaculture systems, six Exposure Indices (EI) are proposed that consider physical energy levels related to hydrodynamic forces at a site. Four of the proposed indices consider only environmental conditions, while the other two also consider the dimensions of the gear that is exposed to the external loads. These indices are: Exposure Velocity (EV), Exposure Velocity at ReferenceDepth (EVRD), SpecificExposureEnergy (SEE), Depth integrated Energy Flux (DEF), Structure-centeredDepth-integrated Energy (SDE), and aStructure-centeredDrag-to-BuoyancyRatio (SDBR). While these indices are derived with a focus on aquaculture structures, they may also have applications for estimating biological stressors and operational challenges. The proposed exposure indiceswere evaluated for a range of known aquaculture sites around the world. A sensitivity analysis was conducted that quantified the relationship between the exposure indices and storm event return period. At a regional scale, hindcast numerical data for the German Bight combined with calculations of 50-year extreme values were used to calculate and map each proposed index spatially. Resulting maps showed that exposure is not simply a function of distance from shore. The six indices show plausible performance regarding the objective assessment of aquaculture sites. The authors herein present the indices to the aquaculture and ocean engineering communities for discussion, application, and potential adoption of one or more of the proposed indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Operational Linescan System (DMSP-OLS) and Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (NPP-VIIRS) nighttime light (NTL) data have been widely used to monitor human activities and urbanization. However, the DMSP-OLS sensor has no on-board calibration, the DMSP-OLS and NPP-VIIRS data are not spatially consistent and continuous due to the differences in spatial resolution and sensor design between satellites, which makes it difficult to use both datasets at the same time for spatio-temporal consistency analysis. Based on this, this study proposed a new approach for systematically calibrating the DMSP-OLS and NPP-VIIRS NTL data, and rapidly generated a continuously consistent NTL dataset from 1992 to 2022. First, the DMSP-OLS data were calibrated using the invariant target method. Secondly, the NPP-VIIRS data were subjected to outlier elimination and time-series comparability calibration. Third, a new fourth-degree polynomial fit calibration model is proposed to calibrate the NPP-VIIRS data into the DMSP-OLS data scale. Finally, this research obtained a long-time series (1992–2022) “DMSP-OLS-like” NTL dataset, and analyzed the dynamics NTLs at different scales. Compared with other fitting methods, the “DMSP-OLS-like” dataset in this research has a clearer city hierarchy. It significantly reduces the saturation phenomenon and spillover effect, has a good spatial pattern and spatio-temporal consistency, and is highly compatible with the relevant socioeconomic reference quantities. The correlation coefficients R2 of total DN with population, GDP, and electricity consumption were 0.922, 0.922, and 0.988, respectively. The results showed that the proposed approach was effective, which is superior to those of existing researches. Our results effectually solved the problem that the two NTL datasets could not be used at the same time, and improved the calibration accuracy in the two NTL datasets, which provides a new source of data for relevant studies such as urban and environmental issues in long-time series.

Abstract While the visual estimation of systolic left ventricular function by experienced examiners closely aligns with quantitative methodologies, the accuracy of visual estimation in determining the severity of valvular regurgitation using colour flow Doppler assessment of native heart valves remains largely unexplored. This study analysed the ability of 262 physicians to visually estimate the severity of 12 native valve regurgitations by grading colour Doppler transthoracic echocardiography loops in an online questionnaire. The assessments of the participants were compared to standardized quantitative evaluations conducted by certified echocardiography experts. Of the three valves to assess, evaluations by the participants showed the best correlation (Rs = 0.75, p

Abstract For many diseases, including cancer, infections, and auto-immune diseases, the immune response is a major determinant of disease progression, response to therapy, and clinical outcome. Innate and adaptive immune responses are controlled by coordinated activity of different immune cell types. The functional activity state of immune cells is determined by Signal Transduction Pathways (STPs). A recently developed technology (Simultaneous Transcriptome-based Activity Profiling of Signal Transduction Pathways, STAP-STP) enables simultaneous and quantitative activity measurement of relevant STPs in immune cells based on mRNA-analysis. STAP-STP technology was used to analyze public transcriptome data of a variety of immune cell types in resting and activated functional state. In addition, a clinical study on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was analyzed to illustrate utility of the technology. Per sample, activity of androgen and estrogen receptor, PI3K, MAPK, TGFβ, Notch, NFκB, JAK-STAT1/2, and JAK-STAT3 STPs was calculated, generating an STP activity profile (SAP) consisting of 9 activity scores. Each analyzed immune cell type, i.e. naive/resting and immune-activated CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, T helper cells, B cells, NK cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, had a reproducible and characteristic SAP, reflecting both cell type and its activity state. Analysis of clinical RA samples revealed increased TGFβ STP activity in whole blood samples. In conclusion, STAP-STP technology enables quantitative measurement of the functional activity state of immune cells of the innate and adaptive immune system. Aside from diagnostic applications, utility lies in unravelling abnormal immune function in disease and immunomodulatory drug development.

This paper employs statistical methods to analyze the relationship between vegetation and climatology variables.Additionally， it quantitatively assesses vegetation feedback over East Asia using the equilibrium feedback assessment （EFA） method.The study reveals a significant correlation between vegetation and climate variables， including temperature and precipitation.In middle and high latitudes， positive feedback is observed between vegetation and temperature， while negative feedback is identified between vegetation and precipitation.In middle and low latitudes， positive feedback is observed between vegetation and precipitation， while negative feedback is identified between vegetation and temperature.In high latitudes， the positive vegetation anomaly tends to reduce the albedo by shading effect， leading to increased energy absorption and warming air during winter and spring.The analysis highlights that in low latitudes， the correlation between leading vegetation and precipitation is highly sensitive.It is mainly because the high year-round temperature in this area leads to the vegetation being dominated by precipitation signals.The study also finds a positive correlation between leading vegetation and precipitation in low latitudes.The increased vegetation stimulates moisture convergence and enhances evapotranspiration， resulting in more precipitation.The vegetation feedback parameter for temperature is positive in regions around the Da Hinggan Mountains and Baikal Lake， predominantly covered by evergreen needle-leaf forests.The feedback parameter in this area is approximately 1 to 2 ℃·(0. 1FPAR ) -1.The positive feedback parameter is identified in the southern part of China， ranging from 0.2 to 1 ℃·(0. 1FPAR ) -1.Regarding precipitation， the feedback parameter exhibits significant noise， making it challenging to distinguish signals except for the positive signal around the North China Plain.In the North China Plain， the feedback parameter for precipitation is approximately 1.5 cm·mon-1 ·(0. 1FPAR ) -1.

Abstract With the continuous updating and progress of medical equipment, the overdue medical device has problems such as management difficulties, resource waste, and potential security risks. Therefore, this paper used the Kohonen network algorithm to quantitatively evaluate and analyze the surplus value of overdue medical devices. In this paper, the Kohonen network algorithm was used to build a quantitative model of the surplus value of the overdue medical device, and the self-organization characteristics and data-driven learning ability of the Kohonen network were used to predict the surplus value of the equipment more accurately. Support vector machine was used to quantitatively evaluate and predict the surplus value of overdue medical devices, and further optimize the model performance, to provide more accurate and reliable decision support for medical equipment management. The Kohonen network algorithm used in this paper evaluated the correlation between the service life and maintenance cost of eight types of overdue medical devices and quantitatively predicted the surplus value of overdue medical devices with the random forest algorithm. According to the comparison of prediction bias, the maximum deviation between the expected surplus value and the actual surplus value is only 1, and the deviation value by the random forest algorithm is as low as 6, the Kohonen network algorithm in this paper has better prediction performance than the random forest algorithm. In the experiment of comparative analysis and verification by introducing the decision tree algorithm, the average error rate of the Kohonen network algorithm in this paper was only 20.57%, which was far lower than 46.34% of the random forest algorithm and 65.31% of decision tree algorithm. The Kohonen network algorithm used in this paper can effectively quantitatively evaluate and predict the surplus value of overdue medical devices, thus improving the efficiency of medical equipment management, reducing costs, and ensuring patient safety.

For many diseases, including cancer, infections, and auto-immune diseases, the immune response is a major determinant of disease progression, response to therapy, and clinical outcome. Innate and adaptive immune responses are controlled by coordinated activity of different immune cell types. The functional activity state of immune cells is determined by Signal Transduction Pathways (STPs). A recently developed technology (Simultaneous Transcriptome-based Activity Profiling of Signal Transduction Pathways, STAP-STP) enables simultaneous and quantitative activity measurement of relevant STPs in immune cells based on mRNA-analysis. STAP-STP technology was used to analyze public transcriptome data of a variety of immune cell types in resting and activated functional state. In addition, a clinical study on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was analyzed to illustrate utility of the technology. Per sample, activity of androgen and estrogen receptor, PI3K, MAPK, TGFβ, Notch, NFκB, JAK-STAT1/2, and JAK-STAT3 STPs was calculated, generating an STP activity profile (SAP) consisting of 9 activity scores. Each analyzed immune cell type, i.e. naive/resting and immune-activated CD4 + and CD8 + T cells, T helper cells, B cells, NK cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, had a reproducible and characteristic SAP, reflecting both cell type and its activity state. Analysis of clinical RA samples revealed increased TGFβ STP activity in whole blood samples. In conclusion, STAP-STP technology enables quantitative measurement of the functional activity state of immune cells of the innate and adaptive immune system. Aside from diagnostic applications, utility lies in unravelling abnormal immune function in disease and immunomodulatory drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition towards sustainable construction is crucial, and demountable building elements are frequently advocated for achieving this goal. While these elements offer relocatability during refurbishments, their adoption may increase initial environmental impact due to higher material use and steel connections. To address this, a quantitative assessment of demountable building elements in refurbishment scenarios at the building level is needed, filling a gap in the existing literature. This study bridges the gap by comparing the total environmental impact of demountable and traditional space-dividing walls in refurbishment scenarios for a semi-detached dwelling. Using a life cycle assessment, seven space-dividing wall types, including metal studs, wood structures, and masonry walls, are evaluated under four refurbishment scenarios spanning a 60-year building lifespan. The results reveal that traditional metal stud walls have a lower environmental impact in scenarios with limited refurbishments. In contrast, demountable walls become more environmentally beneficial only when refurbishing at least 60% of the wall area with three or more refurbishments. This conclusion was further validated through sensitivity analysis on the refurbishment rate, refurbished area, and impact assessment method. In this study, the assumed environmental benefits of demountable walls are challenged, providing a robust evaluation in a specific building typology and offering insights for policymakers and industry professionals on the environmental implications of incorporating demountable building elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerasus × yedoensis (cherry 'Somei-yoshino' Fujino) is affected by bacterial gall disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. cerasicola (PSC). C. × yedoensis is often infected with PSC under weak light intensity, which indicates that susceptibility of C. × yedoensis to PSC is affected by light. To evaluate the effects of white light intensity and different light qualities, white or blue, on bacterial gall disease development, we quantitatively assessed the anatomical and histological features of bacterial-inoculated sites on branches of 2-year-old potted C. × yedoensis seedlings grown under different light intensities and qualities. The stronger the white light intensity, the less severe the gall symptoms. Gall formation was suppressed more by blue than white light of the same intensity. The validity of a simple gall index for assessing gall development with the naked eye, via quantitative evaluation of gall shape by measuring gall height, width, and volume, showed that the gall index could be used as a practical method for on-site assessments of gall development. The ratio of degeneration area in the gall remained constant, suggesting the presence of some regulatory mechanism preventing PSC from affecting the entire gall within the plant. Microscopy showed that the gall tissue is composed primarily of callus cells and has voids containing gummy material that is exuded from cracks in the gall, and the periderm develops at the gall foot but not at the gall apex, so the cells at the gall apex were necrotic or collapsed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arunachal Pradesh is a tribal inhabited area where most people are directly or indirectly dependent on forest resources for their sustenance. The present study was carried out in Deb, Lakang, Leporiang, Ompuli, and Parang villages of Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh from June to December 2021. The Nyishi tribes mostly inhabit the study area. The Nyishi people have a long history of using ethnomedicinal plants for the treatment of various ailments. They also use these plants as a source of food. With time, the demand for such plants has increased rapidly leading to a declining population in the wild. Concerned about the diminishing population in the wild, the local people have ventured to grow them in the home gardens to meet their needs. The study found 21 ethnomedicinal plant species belonging to 16 families cultivated by the people in their kitchen gardens. Of these, 52% were herbs, 24% were shrubs, 19% were trees and 5% were climbers. Quantitative indices like Relative Frequency of Citations (RFC) and Fidelity Level (FL) of the plants have been also calculated. While the RFC ranged between 0.13 to 0.97 and FL between 51.1 to 96.7%. The study reveals the importance of ethnomedicinal plants as a source of food as well as curing a variety of ailments by the Nyishi tribes. Cultivation of ethnomedicinally and economically important plants in the home gardens is a useful strategy for conservation. It will also contribute towards the preservation of associated traditional ecological knowledge of the people. Therefore, the farmers should be encouraged and motivated for more such efforts to ensure the conservation of plants and food security in light of the changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questioning is a critical strategy for science teachers to scaffold students' exploration and knowledge construction in inquiry-oriented science teaching. In science teacher preparation, open-ended questions asked by teachers are advocated as an advantageous strategy to prompt student thinking. However, insufficient attention has been cast on how science content knowledge embedded in teacher questions contributes to students' conceptual understanding. Pre-Service Teachers (PST) may formulate a mindset of hands-off inquiry teaching where students could achieve a learning objective by articulating their thoughts without guidance from teachers. In addition, existing methods for the assessment of questioning are mainly qualitative via discourse analysis from limited scenarios, which may yield biased inferences of a teacher's competency in questioning. Besides, qualitative methods are unwieldy for large-scale analyses due to the complexity of synthesizing discoursal information. In this study, we designed a written instrument for quantitative assessment of PSTs' pedagogical content knowledge of questioning. We thoroughly introduced the free-response and multiple-choice versions of this instrument and applied it with 108 PSTs. The findings supported the validity and reliability of this instrument. As suggested by this instrument, the participating PSTs were aware of the importance of questioning in inquiry teaching. However, the PSTs' difficulties with science content knowledge and knowledge of students' understanding might impede them from determining effective guiding questions to scaffold student learning. Finally, we discussed the potential of this instrument in preparing PSTs' questioning skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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With the continuous updating and progress of medical equipment, the overdue medical device has problems such as management difficulties, resource waste, and potential security risks. Therefore, this paper used the Kohonen network algorithm to quantitatively evaluate and analyze the surplus value of overdue medical devices. In this paper, the Kohonen network algorithm was used to build a quantitative model of the surplus value of the overdue medical device, and the self-organization characteristics and data-driven learning ability of the Kohonen network were used to predict the surplus value of the equipment more accurately. Support vector machine was used to quantitatively evaluate and predict the surplus value of overdue medical devices, and further optimize the model performance, to provide more accurate and reliable decision support for medical equipment management. The Kohonen network algorithm used in this paper evaluated the correlation between the service life and maintenance cost of eight types of overdue medical devices and quantitatively predicted the surplus value of overdue medical devices with the random forest algorithm. According to the comparison of prediction bias, the maximum deviation between the expected surplus value and the actual surplus value is only 1, and the deviation value by the random forest algorithm is as low as 6, the Kohonen network algorithm in this paper has better prediction performance than the random forest algorithm. In the experiment of comparative analysis and verification by introducing the decision tree algorithm, the average error rate of the Kohonen network algorithm in this paper was only 20.57%, which was far lower than 46.34% of the random forest algorithm and 65.31% of decision tree algorithm. The Kohonen network algorithm used in this paper can effectively quantitatively evaluate and predict the surplus value of overdue medical devices, thus improving the efficiency of medical equipment management, reducing costs, and ensuring patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geoconservation policies assumed by the Sicilian Region (Italy) induced to classify as geosites all the geodiversity preserved in the Sicilian natural reserves. In particular, two of these geosites present in the oriented natural reserve of the coastal lagoon of Cape Peloro (Messina, NE Sicily, Italy), denoted "Morpho–tectonic system of Cape Peloro–Lake Faro" and "Morpho–tectonic system of Cape Peloro–Lake Ganzirri", were considered Global areal geosites on the base of their tectonic origin. Lacking an official scientific report of these sites, the present research was aimed to investigate the lagoon, in order to provide the (i) geological and structural framework, (ii) inventory, and (iii) quantitative assessment of geodiversity. The study geosites resulted to be originated during the post–Wurmian sea–level rise and the strong extensional tectonics affecting the Calabria–Peloritani Arc still active. Indeed, the lagoon depression hosting the Lakes Faro and Ganzirri, developed on low-relief coasts because of different systems of capable faults, NW–SE oriented in the Lake Faro and ENE–WSW oriented in the Lake Ganzirri. The quantitative assessment of geodiversity indicated high scores for the scientific value and the potential educational and touristic uses. On the basis of these results, it was possible to confirm the attribution of Lake Faro's and Lake Ganzirri's geodiversity to Global areal geosites, being the study morpho-structures key localities, providing indicators of representativeness, geological diversity, and rarity that ought to be protected as clear and unequivocal examples of the Earth's geological history and evolution of the Quaternary tectonic coastal lagoons. Actual criticisms that could irreversibly affect the environmental equilibria have been evidenced. Possible actions for the redevelopment of the oriented natural reserve of the coastal lagoon of Cape Peloro and the extension of the geosites were also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histological staining plays a crucial role in anatomic pathology for the analysis of biological tissues and the formulation of diagnostic reports. Traditional methods like hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) primarily offer morphological information but lack insight into functional details, such as the expression of biomarkers indicative of cellular activity. To overcome this limitation, we propose a computational approach to synthesize virtual immunohistochemical (IHC) stains from H&E input, transferring imaging features across staining domains. Our approach comprises two stages: (i) a multi‐stage registration framework ensuring precise alignment of cellular and subcellular structures between the source H&E and target IHC stains, and (ii) a deep learning‐based generative model which incorporates functional attributes from the target IHC stain by learning cell‐to‐cell mappings from paired training data. We evaluated our approach of virtual restaining H&E slides to simulate IHC staining for phospho‐histone H3, on inguinal lymph node and bladder tissues. Blind pathologist assessments and quantitative metrics validated the diagnostic quality of the synthetic slides. Notably, mitotic counts derived from synthetic images exhibited a strong correlation with physical staining. Moreover, global and stain‐specific metrics confirmed the high quality of the synthetic IHC images generated by our approach. This methodology represents an important advance in automated functional restaining, achieved through robust registration and a model trained on precisely paired H&E and IHC data to transfer functions cell‐by‐cell. Our approach forms the basis for multiparameter histology analysis and comprehensive cohort staining using only digitized H&E slides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Using the historical disaster records of 28 typhoons in Cangnan County since 2000, combining typhoon paths and hazard-bearing bodies data and based on the theoretical framework of climate change risk, the social and economic risks of typhoon disasters in Cangnan County with four intensity levels—severe tropical storm, typhoon, severe typhoon, and super typhoon—were quantitatively assessed. The results show that with the increase in typhoon disaster intensity, the spatial pattern of typhoon disaster hazard in Cangnan County changes from high in the west and low in the east to high in the south and low in the north. Super typhoons mainly affected Mazhan town and Dailing town in the south. The vulnerability shows an obvious upward trend. Super typhoons cause more than 40% of the population to be affected, more than 20% of direct economic losses and house collapse, and nearly 30% of crops to be affected in Cangnan County. The spatial pattern of risks that typhoon disasters have on populations, economies, crops, and houses change from low in south and high in north to high in north and south, and these risks increase gradually. The comprehensive risk of typhoon disasters is higher in the north and lower in the south, with the risk level being higher in the central and northern regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An inventory and assessment of mountainous geoheritage sites based on solid and clear criteria is a first step for any geoconservation strategy. The study area (DPR Korea) has a complex geological setting and many mountains with geological significance, the reasons that justify the mountainous geoheritage inventory done in this work. The inventoried ten mountainous geoheritage sites were quantitatively assessed and clearly show that Mt. Paektu and Mt. Kumgang is the most important mountainous geoheritage sites in the DPR Korea due to its high international scientific value. Mt. Chilbo and Mt. Myohyang have a slightly low value than these geoheritage sites in scientific value, but a high educational value and a high touristic value. In addition, the majority of the other mountainous geoheritage sites are characterized by moderate scientific, high educational, and high touristic values and low degradation risk. This study may help in selecting the ranking of mountainous geoheritage sites for World Heritage registration and the development of a new geopark project in DPR Korea, a country where the geopark concept is still emerging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban greening is a major goal in policies for sustainable cities, and spatial planners are nowadays strongly interested in the benefits of greenspace for the well-being of urban residents. We present a novel, model-based approach to support the development of effective greening strategies. The approach is quantitative and spatially explicit and accounts for multiple health benefits as well as burdens. In our study, we applied this generic approach to the city of Maastricht (The Netherlands) and conducted an integrated, city-scale assessment of the health benefits and burdens of four urban greenspace designs. These included: 'No greenspace', 'Current greenspace', 'Green parking lots and squares', and 'Optimized greenspace locations'. For each greenspace design, indicator values were calculated for five determinants of health and well-being: heat stress, air pollution, perceived unsafety, unattractive views, and tick-bite risk. To assess the health contribution of urban greenspace in a given design, these indicator values were compared with the values in the 'No greenspace' design. The study produced clear, quantitative conclusions about the health benefits and burdens of the urban greenspace designs for the case of Maastricht but also generated novel, more general insights relevant to the planning of urban greenspace for health and well-being. These insights concern the importance of translating health policy objectives into specific target values or thresholds and the importance of 'smart' choices in greenspace type and location that can effectively reduce trade-offs between health benefits and burdens, as well as the insights that adding more greenery not always improves urban health and that urban greenspace alone cannot solve major air pollution problems. The priorities for future research, which will address the limitations of the presented approach, concern a further expansion of the range of health benefits and burdens covered by the model and the development of a common metric for the entire range of health benefits and burdens to optimize greenspace design and maximize its overall net health benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high proportion of distributed generators (DGs) connected to the distribution network causes a significant change in the normal and fault currents of the system as well as in the linearization of the characteristics. It is difficult to adapt to conventional protection. This paper theoretically analyzes the possible impact of fault current characteristics on traditional protection based on single-ended informativeness after connecting to DGs. From the perspective of protection action, the evaluation index system of DG protection is established by considering the maximum short-circuit current output from DG. Combined with the relay protection requirements, the calculation method of evaluation indexes is given concerning the protection characteristics and expert experience. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and a CRITIC combination assignment method based on the principle of minimum information identification are proposed. The scores of different types of protection before and after DG access are calculated using the proposed methodology employing a typical distribution network example. The proposed method can quantitatively obtain the distribution network protection adaptability boundary. In the actual calculation example selected in this paper, a DG can reasonably improve the adaptability of the three-stage current protection when it increases the current amplitude at a penetration rate of 50%; the DG needs to adjust the three-stage current protection rectification value when it decreases the current amplitude at a penetration rate of 20%; and adaptive overcurrent protection and inverse time limit current protection need to be adjusted when the penetration rate of DG is 50%. Compared with the traditional protection evaluation method, the method adopted in this paper can intuitively derive the weak link between protection handling faults after DG access as well as the appropriate capacity of DG to improve protection performance. It can provide a powerful reference for the optimization of protection schemes after the high percentage of DG access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Fish passage facilities are crucial for restoring river connectivity and protecting ecosystems. This study quantitatively assessed the upstream migration of fish under various environmental conditions. In the Heishuihe River downstream of the Songxin Dam, 19 fish species were monitored, with 15 species reaching the fishway entrance and 12 successfully passing through. The entrance attraction and passage rates of the vertical-slot fishway at Songxin were 15.7% and 40.42%, respectively. The results indicate that May is the optimal period for fish migration, with better performance observed during nighttime than daytime. Optimal entrance attraction occurred at a flow rate of 6–7 m3/s and a temperature of 19–20 °C, while the best passage efficiency was achieved at a flow rate of 0–0.5 m3/s and a temperature of 17–20 °C. A multifactorial Cox regression model identified diurnal rhythms, release location, temperature, and flow rate as primary hindering factors, while body length and water level were found to be promoting factors. A nomogram was developed to predict the success rates of fishway attraction and passage based on these key factors. This study provides theoretical and data support for optimizing fishway operations and offers scientific insights into ecological restoration. Fish passage facilities are essential for restoring river connectivity and protecting ecosystems, effectively balancing economic and ecological benefits. Systematic and comprehensive monitoring, assessment, and optimized management are therefore crucial. This study quantitatively evaluated the entire upstream migration process of fish from the downstream river to the entrance and exit of the fishway and investigated the upstream movement patterns of fish under various environmental factors. A total of 19 fish species were monitored in the Heishuihe River downstream of the dam, with 15 species reaching the fishway entrance and 12 species successfully passing through it. The entrance attraction and passage rates of the vertical-slot fishway at the Songxin hydropower station were 15.7% and 40.42%, respectively. The best upstream performance was observed in May, with fish demonstrating better upstream timing and speed during nighttime compared to daytime. Specifically, the highest entrance attraction efficiency was recorded at a flow rate of 6–7 m3/s and a temperature of 19–20 °C, while the optimal passage efficiency was observed at a flow rate of 0–0.5 m3/s and a temperature of 17–20 °C. Additionally, a multifactorial Cox proportional hazards regression model was constructed to identify key factors influencing the probability of fishway entrance attraction and successful passage. The model elucidated the impact patterns of these key factors on fish upstream migration, ultimately generating an alignment diagram for prediction and control. This study provides a theoretical foundation and data support for developing optimized operational schedules for fishways. The findings offer a more comprehensive and systematic approach for monitoring and evaluating fish passage facilities, serving as a scientific basis for ecological restoration and fish conservation in this region and similar areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a quantitative pest risk assessment to assess whether the import of cut roses provides a pathway for the introduction of Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) into the EU. The assessment was limited to the entry and establishment steps. A pathway model was used to assess how many T. leucotreta individuals would survive and emerge as adults from commercial or household wastes in an EU NUTS2 region climatically suitable in a specific season. This pathway model for entry consisted of three components: a cut roses distribution model, a T. leucotreta developmental model and a waste model. Four scenarios of timing from initial disposal of the cut roses until waste treatment (3, 7, 14 and 28 days) were considered. The estimated median number of adults escaping per year from imported cut roses in all the climatically suitable NUTS2 regions of the EU varied from 49,867 (90% uncertainty between 5,298 and 234,393) up to 143,689 (90% uncertainty between 21,126 and 401,458) for the 3- and 28-day scenarios. Assuming that, on average, a successful mating will happen for every 435 escaping moths, the estimated median number of T. leucotreta mated females per year from imported cut roses in all the climatically suitable NUTS2 regions of the EU would vary from 115 (90% uncertainty between 12 and 538) up to 330 (90% uncertainty between 49 and 923) for the 3- and 28-day scenarios. Due to the extreme polyphagia of T. leucotreta, host availability will not be a limiting factor for establishment. Climatic suitability assessment, using a physiologically based demographic modelling approach, identified the coastline extending from the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula through the Mediterranean as area suitable for establishment of T. leucotreta. This assessment indicates that cut roses provide a pathway for the introduction of T. leucotreta into the EU.

Macrophytes, visible aquatic and semi-aquatic plants, are integral components of wetland ecosystems, playing crucial roles in maintaining biodiversity, providing ecosystem services, and ensuring ecological stability. This research examines the distribution, abundance, frequency, diversity, and ecosystem services of macrophytes in several wetlands (W1-W7) located in the eastern part of Ranchi district, Jharkhand, India. The study sites include Bundu Lake, Hindalco Pond, Choga Bada Talab, Raja Bandh, Kita Uparbandh, Tamar Bada Talab, and Rukka Dam. A quantitative assessment using quadrat sampling and phytosociological methods was conducted from September 2022 to March 2023 to ensure accurate data collection and analysis. The study documented 78 macrophyte species belonging to 33 families and 58 genera. Emergent macrophytes were found to be the dominant life form, constituting 69% of the recorded species. Several species demonstrated high frequency and abundance across multiple study sites, including Pontederia crassipes Mart., Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart) Griseb., Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle, Ipomoea aquaticaForssk., and Nymphoides hydrophyllum (Lour.) kuntze. To assess the diversity and ecological characteristics of the macrophyte communities, various diversity indices were calculated. These included the Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson's index, Margalef index, and Pielou's Evenness index. The results of these analyses revealed high levels of macrophyte diversity and evenness within the studied wetlands. Twenty-one macrophytes were identified as key species and nine species as rare species based on their IVI (Importance Value Index) scores. The key species were found to provide essential ecosystem services, including erosion control, water quality improvement, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and habitat provision for other organisms. This research contributes significantly to our understanding of macrophyte diversity patterns and traits-based ecosystem services in wetland ecosystems. The findings of this study have important implications for the development and implementation of effective conservation strategies for these vital wetland ecosystems in the eastern Ranchi (W1- W7).

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are recognized as one of the approaches that can address a range of environmental issues, often with conservation and natural resource management missions. However, the promotion of NbS often lacks a robust understanding of their actual impacts and effectiveness. To support the evaluation and implementation of NbS, there is a need for a comprehensive quantitative assessment framework. The main objectives of the study are to (1) develop an assessment framework that can be used to quantify the performance of NbS interventions and to (2) provide a step-by-step guideline for evaluating NbS. The assessment framework proposed in this study was built upon existing frameworks used in previous studies, designed to address specific gaps. Several aspects and tools were integrated in response to the NbS standard criteria provided by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as a result, this quantitative assessment framework can provide a comprehensive evidence based on environmental, social, and economic aspects. The study introduced one approach, viz., the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA), and three main assessment tools (i.e., Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA), and Cost-Benefit Assessment (CBA)) aimed at facilitating a comprehensive evaluation of NbS. The results provide a conceptual framework that offers a systematic approach for evaluating the performance of NbS, along with methods to address conflicting results among aspects and/or indicators. Ideas and approaches for assessing ecosystem services provided by NbS and primary concerns when conducting NbS assessments are also highlighted. In summary, the conceptual framework proposed in this study can be used to assess NbS performance and determine whether NbS interventions align with the NbS standard criteria provided by IUCN, utilizing the introduced assessment tools.

Abstract Understanding the spatial distribution of world cultural heritage in its present-day geographical context is the foundation for the identification of and subsequent protection from key threats and vulnerabilities, particularly those arising from anthropogenic climate change. To address this challenge, we classified 45 Spanish world cultural heritage sites (WCHS) listed in the UNESCO register (as of 2023) according to type, entry date, and creation date. To establish a basis for a detailed analysis of the specific impact of climate change on the Spanish WCHS, a spatial cartographic database was developed showing the relationships between the WCHS and key geographical and climatic variables. We then used historical climate data, combined with a review of the impact mechanism of climate conditions on cultural heritage, to quantitatively evaluate the extent to which the WCHS in Spain are affected by local climate conditions from five aspects: freeze thaw cycle, thermal stress (thermoclastism), hydrodynamic scoring, corrosion, and biodegradation. Based on the above climate condition risks, we identified the five Spanish WCHS with the greatest potential climate condition risks, including Santiago de Compostela (Old Town), Pyrénées—Mont Perdu, the Roman Walls of Lugo, the Routes of Santiago de Compostela: Camino Francés and Routes of Northern Spain, and the Tower of Hercules. Additionally, based on different shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs), we conducted a qualitative assessment of climate risk changes for WCHS in Spain under climate change. We found that the SSP1-2.6 scenario had the lowest climate risk, emphasizing the importance of achieving carbon neutrality for the protection of the WCHS. Our work translates historical climate conditions into specific climate risk levels for cultural heritage, providing data and theoretical support for effectively assessing the climate risks to Spanish WCHS.