In an environment where demand for housing is growing and the supply from public authorities is virtually non-existent,several mechanisms for housing production are emerging in the formal,semi-informal and informal co...In an environment where demand for housing is growing and the supply from public authorities is virtually non-existent,several mechanisms for housing production are emerging in the formal,semi-informal and informal construction sectors.The project owner wonders how much it costs to construct a building to an acceptable standard.Cost forecasting in general faces a number of difficulties,including a lack of available information during the preliminary phase of the project.As such,estimation becomes a crucial task involving great responsibility,which can lead to either more convincing results or chaotic situations.This study proposes a quick and effective method for estimating the cost of a single-storey F4 residential building.The modelling is done using multiple linear regression based on a statistical approach applied to twenty(20)projects that have already been completed.The project data are collected from design offices in the city of Brazzaville.The method expresses the cost of an F4 construction by certain project tasks,representing five(5)variables,three(3)of which are related to structural work and two(2)to finishing work,which are easy to determine.This approach,known as MECSO(Cost Estimation Model by Sub-structure),gives good results in all statistical tests carried out with reasonable confidence intervals.This method is very practical for engineering professionals working on the evaluation and control of construction costs.展开更多
Vector winds play a crucial role in weather and climate,as well as the effective utilization of wind energy resources.However,limited research has been conducted on treating the wind field as a vector field in the eva...Vector winds play a crucial role in weather and climate,as well as the effective utilization of wind energy resources.However,limited research has been conducted on treating the wind field as a vector field in the evaluation of numerical weather prediction models.In this study,the authors treat vector winds as a whole by employing a vector field evaluation method,and evaluate the mesoscale model of the China Meteorological Administration(CMA-MESO)and ECMWF forecast,with reference to ERA5 reanalysis,in terms of multiple aspects of vector winds over eastern China in 2022.The results show that the ECMWF forecast is superior to CMA-MESO in predicting the spatial distribution and intensity of 10-m vector winds.Both models overestimate the wind speed in East China,and CMA-MESO overestimates the wind speed to a greater extent.The forecasting skill of the vector wind field in both models decreases with increasing lead time.The forecasting skill of CMA-MESO fluctuates more and decreases faster than that of the ECMWF forecast.There is a significant negative correlation between the model vector wind forecasting skill and terrain height.This study provides a scientific evaluation of the local application of vector wind forecasts of the CMA-MESO model and ECMWF forecast.展开更多
Climate change is increasingly affecting all aspects of protected areas management from changes of species ranges to visitor experiences.Due to these impacts,there is a need for managers to take more robust approaches...Climate change is increasingly affecting all aspects of protected areas management from changes of species ranges to visitor experiences.Due to these impacts,there is a need for managers to take more robust approaches to con-sidering the implications of climate change on the overall application and efficacy of protected areas management direction,including the achievement of the goals and objectives contained within management plans.Through a systematic and comprehensive content analysis approach,this study assesses the current extent to which climate change is considered in Canadian protected area management plans.Specifically,we evaluated 63 terrestrial protected area management plans against a set of climate robustness principles.Our content analysis revealed that climate change is currently not effectively factored into Canadian protected area management plans with an average climate robustness score of 18%.Climate robustness score was not found to be correlated with protected area size,International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN)management classification,or jurisdictional authority.Certain climate robustness principles received higher scores across the management plans than oth-ers.For example,the principles of‘diverse knowledge sources’and‘addresses climate change’scored relatively highly whereas‘climate change vulnerability’and‘ecosystem integrity’received the lowest scores.The lack of integration of ecological integrity considerations in management plans was a particularly noteworthy deficiency considering that this guiding principle is the primary legislative objective of many national and sub-national protected areas in Canada.From this assessment,climate change needs to be more effectively and consistently integrated into protected area management plan development and coordinated across associated planning pro-cesses.We discuss the ways in which this can be achieved,for example,by integrating scenario planning into organizational management plan development processes.展开更多
The rapid growth of semiconductor,photovoltaic,and other emerging industries has led to a sharp increase in the demand for high-purity quartz in China,particularly 4N5-grade(99.995%pure SiO_(2)).However,heavy reliance...The rapid growth of semiconductor,photovoltaic,and other emerging industries has led to a sharp increase in the demand for high-purity quartz in China,particularly 4N5-grade(99.995%pure SiO_(2)).However,heavy reliance on imported high-purity quartz poses a significant risk to the security of key national strategic industries.To address this challenge,China is focusing on identifying domestic sources of high-purity quartz and developing efficient evaluation methods.This study investigates the inclusion content in three types of quartz:pegmatite,vein quartz,and white granite.A grading system based on the transmittance of quartz grains was established by analyz-ing the number of inclusions.Five quartz ore samples from different regions were purified,and the resulting concentrates were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS).The relationships among the inclusion content of raw quartz,impurity composition of purified quartz,and quality of sintered fused quartz products were examined.The findings demonstrate that quartz with fewer inclusions results in lower impurity levels after purification,higher SiO_(2)purity,and more translucent glass,as confirmed by firing tests.Herein,this study establishes a clear connection between quartz inclusions and the overall quality of high-purity quartz.The pro-posed approach enables the rapid assessment of quartz deposit quality by identifying inclusions,offering a practical and efficient method for locating high-quality quartz resources.展开更多
During the final proofing stage of the paper,the wrong version of Fig.2 was accidently used when replacing it with a high-resolution version.The star and circle marks were missing in the published version.
BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)remains a significant global health challenge,with high incidence and mortality rates.Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly used to improve surgical outcomes and long-term survival in a...BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)remains a significant global health challenge,with high incidence and mortality rates.Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly used to improve surgical outcomes and long-term survival in advanced cases.However,individual responses to treatment vary widely,and current imaging methods often fall short in accurately predicting efficacy.Advanced imaging techniques,such as computed tomography(CT)3D reconstruction and texture analysis,offer potential for more precise assessment of therapeutic response.AIM To explore the application value of CT 3D reconstruction volume change rate,texture feature analysis,and visual features in assessing the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced GC.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and imaging data of 97 patients with advanced GC who received S-1 plus Oxaliplatin combined chemotherapy regimen neoadjuvant chemotherapy from January 2022 to March 2024.CT texture feature analysis was performed using MaZda software,and ITK-snap software was used to measure the tumor volume change rate before and after chemotherapy.CT visual features were also evaluated.Using postoperative pathological tumor regression grade(TRG)as the gold standard,the correlation between various indicators and chemotherapy efficacy was analyzed,and a predictive model was constructed and internally validated.RESULTS The minimum misclassification rate of texture features in venous phase CT images(7.85%)was lower than in the arterial phase(13.92%).The volume change rate in the effective chemotherapy group(75.20%)was significantly higher than in the ineffective group(41.75%).There was a strong correlation between volume change rate and TRG grade(r=-0.886,P<0.001).Multivariate analysis showed that gastric wall peristalsis(OR=0.286)and thickness change rate≥40%(OR=0.265)were independent predictive factors.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the volume change rate[area under the curve(AUC)=0.885]was superior to the CT visual feature model(AUC=0.795).When the cutoff value was 82.56%,the sensitivity and specificity were 85.62%and 96.45%,respectively.CONCLUSION The CT 3D reconstruction volume change rate can serve as a preferred quantitative indicator for evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in GC.Combining it with a CT visual feature predictive model can further improve the accuracy of efficacy evaluation.展开更多
BACKGROUND Endoscopy allows for the direct observation of primary tumor characteristics and responses after neoadjuvant treatment.However,reports on endoscopic evaluation following neoadjuvant immunotherapy remain lim...BACKGROUND Endoscopy allows for the direct observation of primary tumor characteristics and responses after neoadjuvant treatment.However,reports on endoscopic evaluation following neoadjuvant immunotherapy remain limited.AIM To examine the predictive value of endoscopic findings of primary tumors for responses to neoadjuvant immunotherapy.METHODS This retrospective study,conducted at a tertiary center in China,evaluated 74 patients with colorectal cancer,including 17 with deficient mismatch repair(dMMR)and 15 with proficient mismatch repair(pMMR)tumors.Patients underwent neoadjuvant immunotherapy followed by surgery.Endoscopic findings before and after neoadjuvant immunotherapy were reviewed and compared with the pathology of the resected specimens.RESULTS In the pMMR group(n=57 evaluable patients),endoscopy identified 11/17 patients who achieved a complete response(CR),while misidentifying 1/40 patients with residual disease as CR(64.7%vs 2.5%,P<0.01).Conversely,22/40 patients with residual disease were accurately identified as achieving a partial response(PR),with 1/17 patients who achieved CR misclassified as PR(55.0%vs 5.9%,P<0.01).The sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of endoscopic diagnosis for pathological CR were 64.7%,97.5%,and 87.7%,respectively.In the dMMR cohort,endoscopy classified 9/17 patients as CR and 2 of the remaining patients with residual tumors as PR(64.3%vs 66.7%,P=0.73).The method demonstrated 100%sensitivity and 82.4%accuracy in diagnosing pathological CR.CONCLUSION Endoscopic evidence of CR or PR was well correlated with postoperative pathological outcomes in the pMMR cohort.Despite endoscopic indications of tumor residue,a complete pathological response post-surgery was possible in the dMMR cohort.展开更多
Objective:To explore a rapid and accurate method for evaluating the quality of Prunus mandshurica(Maxim.)Koehne(P.mandshurica,Ku Xing Ren)during rancidity using machine vision and learning.Methods:Sensory evaluation a...Objective:To explore a rapid and accurate method for evaluating the quality of Prunus mandshurica(Maxim.)Koehne(P.mandshurica,Ku Xing Ren)during rancidity using machine vision and learning.Methods:Sensory evaluation and chemometrics were used to classify P.mandshurica quality grades after rancidity.Chemical indicators of the P.mandshurica quality change were determined to verify the ob-tained grades and support the subsequent modeling.The International Commission on Illumination color space was used to extract the color features of the P.mandshurica.Discrimination and prediction models based on color features combined with multiple machine learning algorithms were established using 10-fold cross-validation and external test set validation.Results:The P.mandshurica rancidity samples were allocated to three quality grades.The Bayes net model based on powder color successfully identified the P.mandshurica at different grades with an accuracy of 88.89%and 100%using two validations,and the naive Bayes model based on section color achieved the same accuracy with an receiver operating characteristic area of 0.979.The instance-based k-nearest neighbors model based on powder color performed best in predicting the amygdalin content[R^(2)=0.9801,mean absolute error(MAE)=0.2071,root mean squared error(RMSE)=0.4170],followed by the random com-mittee model in predicting the acid value(R^(2)=0.9580,MAE=1.5121,RMSE=1.9099)and the random forest model in predicting the peroxide value(R^(2)=0.8857,MAE=0.0027,RMSE=0.0035).Conclusion:This study demonstrates that color digitization analysis is a potential method for rapidly evaluating the quality of P.mandshurica across the rancidity process,providing a new reference for the quality assessment of traditional Chinese medicines.展开更多
Google Gemini 1.5 Flash scores were compared with ChatGPT 4o-mini on evaluations of(a)51 of the author’s journal articles and(b)up to 200 articles in each of 34 field-based Units of Assessment(UoAs)from the UK Resear...Google Gemini 1.5 Flash scores were compared with ChatGPT 4o-mini on evaluations of(a)51 of the author’s journal articles and(b)up to 200 articles in each of 34 field-based Units of Assessment(UoAs)from the UK Research Excellence Framework(REF)2021.From(a),the results suggest that Gemini 1.5 Flash,unlike ChatGPT 4o-mini,may work better when fed with a PDF or article full text,rather than just the title and abstract.From(b),Gemini 1.5 Flash seems to be marginally less able to predict an article’s research quality(using a departmental quality proxy indicator)than ChatGPT 4o-mini,although the differences are small,and both have similar disciplinary variations in this ability.Averaging multiple runs of Gemini 1.5 Flash improves the scores.展开更多
0 INTRODUCTION Submarine slope slides refer to a geological process occurring on submarine slopes or continental margin slopes,where a large amount of sediment or rock layers on the slope lose stability and slide down...0 INTRODUCTION Submarine slope slides refer to a geological process occurring on submarine slopes or continental margin slopes,where a large amount of sediment or rock layers on the slope lose stability and slide downward along the sliding surface(Kamran et al.,2023;Tong et al.,2023;Hampton et al.,1996).展开更多
Current mainstream unsupervised video object segmentation(UVOS) approaches typically incorporate optical flow as motion information to locate the primary objects in coherent video frames. However, they fuse appearance...Current mainstream unsupervised video object segmentation(UVOS) approaches typically incorporate optical flow as motion information to locate the primary objects in coherent video frames. However, they fuse appearance and motion information without evaluating the quality of the optical flow. When poor-quality optical flow is used for the interaction with the appearance information, it introduces significant noise and leads to a decline in overall performance. To alleviate this issue, we first employ a quality evaluation module(QEM) to evaluate the optical flow. Then, we select high-quality optical flow as motion cues to fuse with the appearance information, which can prevent poor-quality optical flow from diverting the network's attention. Moreover, we design an appearance-guided fusion module(AGFM) to better integrate appearance and motion information. Extensive experiments on several widely utilized datasets, including DAVIS-16, FBMS-59, and You Tube-Objects, demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms existing methods.展开更多
With rising demand for clean energy,global focus turns to finding ideal sites for large-scale underground hydrogen storage(UHS)in depleted petroleum reservoirs.A thorough preliminary reservoir evaluation before hydrog...With rising demand for clean energy,global focus turns to finding ideal sites for large-scale underground hydrogen storage(UHS)in depleted petroleum reservoirs.A thorough preliminary reservoir evaluation before hydrogen(H_(2))injection is crucial for UHS success and safety.Recent criteria for UHS often emphasize economics and chemistry,neglecting key reservoir attributes.This study introduces a comprehensive framework for the reservoir-scale preliminary assessment,specifically tailored for long-term H_(2) storage within depleted gas reservoirs.The evaluation criteria encompass critical components,including reservoir geometry,petrophysical properties,tectonics,and formation fluids.To illustrate the practical application of this approach,we assess the Barnett shale play reservoir parameters.The assessment unfolds through three key stages:(1)A systematic evaluation of the reservoir's properties against our comprehensive screening criteria determines its suitability for H_(2) storage.(2)Using both homogeneous and multilayered gas reservoir models,we explore the feasibility and efficiency of H_(2) storage.This phase involves an in-depth examination of reservoir behavior during the injection stage.(3)To enhance understanding of UHS performance,sensitivity analyses investigate the impact of varying reservoir dimensions and injection/production pressures.The findings reveal the following:(a)Despite potential challenges associated with reservoir compaction and aquifer support,the reservoir exhibits substantial promise as an H_(2) storage site.(b)Notably,a pronounced increase in reservoir pressure manifests during the injection stage,particularly in homogeneous reservoirs.(c)Furthermore,optimizing injection-extraction cycle efficiency can be achieved by augmenting reservoir dimensions while maintaining a consistent thickness.To ensure a smooth transition to implementation,further comprehensive investigations are advised,including experimental and numerical studies to address injectivity concerns and explore storage site development.This evaluation framework is a valuable tool for assessing the potential of depleted gas reservoirs for large-scale hydrogen storage,advancing global eco-friendly energy systems.展开更多
Black carbon(BC)is associated with adverse human health and climate change.Mapping BC spatial distribution imperatively requires low-cost and portable devices.Several portable BC monitors are commercially available,bu...Black carbon(BC)is associated with adverse human health and climate change.Mapping BC spatial distribution imperatively requires low-cost and portable devices.Several portable BC monitors are commercially available,but their accuracy and reliability are not always satisfactory during continuous field observation.This study evaluated three models of portable black carbon monitors,C12,MA350 and DST,and investigates the factors that affect their performance.The monitors were tested in urban Beijing,where portable devices running for one month alongside a regular-size reference aethalometer AE33.The study considers several factors that could influence the monitors'performance,including ambient weather,aerosol composition,loading artifacts,and built-in algorithms.The results show that MA350and DST present considerable discrepancies to the reference instrument,mainly occurring at lower concentrations(0-500 ng/m^(3))and higher concentrations(2500-8000 ng/m^(3)),respectively.These discrepancies were likely caused by the anomalous noise of MA350 and the loading artifacts of DST.The study also suggests that the ambient environment has limited influence on the monitors'performance,but loading artifacts and accompanying compensation algorithms can result in unrealistic data.Based on the evaluation,the study suggests that C12 is the best choice for unsupervised field measurement,DST should be used in scenarios where frequent maintenance is available,and MA350 is suitable for research purposes with post-processing applicable.The study highlights the importance of assigning portable BC monitors to appropriate applications and the need for optimized real-time compensation algorithms.展开更多
For the evaluation of cavitation erosion resistance of metallic materials,it has always been a time-consuming technical problem.This paper innovatively proposed a parameter named cavitation hardening rate to character...For the evaluation of cavitation erosion resistance of metallic materials,it has always been a time-consuming technical problem.This paper innovatively proposed a parameter named cavitation hardening rate to characterize the plastic deformation and work hardening behavior of metallic materials during the cavitation process and then found a positive correlation between cavitation hardening rate and strain hardening index.Finally,the relationship between cavitation volume loss and strain hardening index was obtained,and a simple and rapid evaluation method for cavitation erosion resistance was established.展开更多
In order to explore the correlation of 3 different methods of evaluating the degree of skin redness,45 healthy Chinese subjects aged 18~45 were recruited to attend a human efficacy evaluation test.An emulsion product ...In order to explore the correlation of 3 different methods of evaluating the degree of skin redness,45 healthy Chinese subjects aged 18~45 were recruited to attend a human efficacy evaluation test.An emulsion product which declares soothing and repair efficacy was used each time in the morning and evening for 4 weeks.Three methods,including visual assessment,image analysis and instrument measurement,were taken to test the related indices of skin redness degree respectively.The improvement of skin redness and the correlation of 3 methods were evaluated by comparing the changes of each index before and after using the product.The results show that the face redness degree score and the image analysis a*value significantly reduce at all time points after using the sample(P<0.05),while the instrument probe a*value significantly reduce at the time point after using for 2 weeks(P<0.05).The correlation coefficient of the face redness degree score and the instrument probe a*value is more than 0.33 and less than 0.67,and the significance level is less than 0.01.Therefore,the sample has soothing and repair efficacy for improving skin redness;and the methods of visual assessment and instrument measurement present moderate positive correlation.展开更多
In 2019,the United Arab Emirates(UAE)became the first Arab country to integrate Chinese language education into its national basic education system,employing 172 Chinese language teachers and educating over 54,000 Emi...In 2019,the United Arab Emirates(UAE)became the first Arab country to integrate Chinese language education into its national basic education system,employing 172 Chinese language teachers and educating over 54,000 Emirati students by 2022.In response to the global pandemic,the UAE also became the first Arab nation to implement distance learning on a national scale,transitioning public schools to this mode of instruction in March 2020.However,existing research on distance Chinese learning primarily focuses on international students in Chinese universities or countries where Chinese language education is more established,and mainly targets older age groups such as university and high school students.There is currently no research dedicated to distance Chinese learning in the UAE.This paper addresses this research gap by exploring three key aspects.The first section reviews current literature on the key stakeholders and influencing factors in distance learning.The second section examines the development of distance Chinese language education and proposes an initial evaluation framework for this field.The third section analyzes the current state of distance Chinese learning in the UAE,highlighting specific issues that warrant further scholarly attention.This study serves as a valuable reference for researchers interested in advancing research on both distance learning and Chinese language education in the UAE.展开更多
University teachers play an important role in promoting moral and political education among university students.Regular and long-term construction of teachers’morality and ethics will contribute to the success of the...University teachers play an important role in promoting moral and political education among university students.Regular and long-term construction of teachers’morality and ethics will contribute to the success of the fundamental task of cultivating talents.The present study proposes that due to the multiple identities of university teachers,it is necessary to evaluate the construction of teachers’morality and ethics in terms of what to evaluate and how to evaluate?It is expected that the attempt will provide useful guidance for the construction of university teachers’morality and ethics.展开更多
Background:The sustainability of rural surgical and obstetrical facilities depends on their efficacy and quality of care,which are difficult to measure in a rural context.In an evaluation of rural practice,it is often...Background:The sustainability of rural surgical and obstetrical facilities depends on their efficacy and quality of care,which are difficult to measure in a rural context.In an evaluation of rural practice,it is often the case that the only comparators are larger referral facilities,for which facility‐level comparisons are difficult due to differences in population demographics,acuity of patients,and services offered.This publication outlines these limitations and highlights a best‐practice approach to making facility‐level comparisons using population‐level data,risk stratification,tests of noninfer-iority,and Firth logistic regression analysis.This includes an investigation of minimum sample‐size requirements through Monte Carlo power analysis in the context of low‐acuity rural surgical care.Methods:Monte Carlo power analysis was used to estimate the minimum sample size required to achieve a power of 0.8 for both logistic regression and Firth logistic regression models that compare the proportion of surgical adverse events against facility type,among other confounders.We provide guidelines for the implementation of a recommended methodology that uses risk stratification,Firth penalized logistic regression,and tests of noninferiority.Results:We illustrate limitations in facility‐level comparison of surgical quality among patients undergoing one of four index procedures including hernia repair,colonoscopy,appendectomy,and cesarean delivery.We identified minimum sample sizes for comparison of each index procedure that fluctuate depending on the level of risk stratification used.Conclusion:The availability of administrative data can provide an adequate sample size to allow for facility‐level comparisons in surgical quality,at the rural level and elsewhere.When they are made appropriately,these comparisons can be used to evaluate the efficacy of general practitioners and nurse practitioners in performing low‐acuity procedures.展开更多
The central concept of strategic benchmarking is resource management efficiency,which ultimately results in profitability.However,little is known about performance measurement from resource-based perspectives.This stu...The central concept of strategic benchmarking is resource management efficiency,which ultimately results in profitability.However,little is known about performance measurement from resource-based perspectives.This study uses the data envelopment analysis(DEA)model with a dynamic network structure to measure the resource management and profitability efficiencies of 287 US commercial banks from 2010 to 2020.Furthermore,we provide frontier projections and incorporate five variables,namely capital adequacy,asset quality,management quality,earning ability,and liquidity(i.e.,the CAMEL ratings).The results revealed that the room for improvement in bank performance is 55.4%.In addition,we found that the CAMEL ratings of efficient banks are generally higher than those of inefficient banks,and management quality,earnings quality,and liquidity ratios positively contribute to bank performance.Moreover,big banks are generally more efficient than small banks.Overall,this study continues the current heated debate on performance measurement in the banking industry,with a particular focus on the DEA application to answer the fundamental question of why resource management efficiency reflects benchmark firms and provides insights into how efficient management of CAMEL ratings would help in improving their performance.展开更多
Background:The number of medical research publications by Chinese clinical investigators has risen substantially,contributing to 14.63%of the global total in 2019;however,their tangible impact on clinical decisionmaki...Background:The number of medical research publications by Chinese clinical investigators has risen substantially,contributing to 14.63%of the global total in 2019;however,their tangible impact on clinical decisionmaking remains limited.Various evaluation methods have been developed to measure hospital research competence in China,such as Fudan University's China hospital ranking and Science and Technology Evaluation Metrics(STEM)ranking,which predominantly focuses on factors such as academic reputation,volume of publications and patents,and research resources.However,composite indices may not fully capture the actual clinical value generated by medical research.To address this gap,we introduced the“Clinical Influence and Timeliness Evaluation(CITE)”metric to assess both the clinical importance of a given medical research study and the clinical influence of the hospital where it originated.The methodology used relies on the premise that influential medical research would be referenced in clinical guidelines,which serve as critical resources for clinicians.Methods:The CITE metric was applied for 78,636 medical studies concerning chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)published between 2000 and 2020 and referenced in both Chinese and international clinical guidelines for COPD.Specific indexes and formulas were derived to quantify the clinical weight of a medical research study(W)and its timeliness(T),enabling a dynamic assessment of the clinical value of each study and the overall contribution of a particular hospital.Results:In this analysis,we incorporated 499 hospitals in China and quantitatively identified their dynamic clinical influence in COPD from 2000 to 2020.Our findings offer objective and targeted evaluation metrics by focusing on clinical relevance and recognizing the collaborative nature of medical research.Conclusion:The CITE metric provides an innovative method to gauge the true impact of medical research in China,with potential applications across different medical specialties.CITE can serve as a useful tool for understanding the relationship between research input and practical clinical outcomes,ultimately promoting more clinically relevant research endeavors.展开更多
文摘In an environment where demand for housing is growing and the supply from public authorities is virtually non-existent,several mechanisms for housing production are emerging in the formal,semi-informal and informal construction sectors.The project owner wonders how much it costs to construct a building to an acceptable standard.Cost forecasting in general faces a number of difficulties,including a lack of available information during the preliminary phase of the project.As such,estimation becomes a crucial task involving great responsibility,which can lead to either more convincing results or chaotic situations.This study proposes a quick and effective method for estimating the cost of a single-storey F4 residential building.The modelling is done using multiple linear regression based on a statistical approach applied to twenty(20)projects that have already been completed.The project data are collected from design offices in the city of Brazzaville.The method expresses the cost of an F4 construction by certain project tasks,representing five(5)variables,three(3)of which are related to structural work and two(2)to finishing work,which are easy to determine.This approach,known as MECSO(Cost Estimation Model by Sub-structure),gives good results in all statistical tests carried out with reasonable confidence intervals.This method is very practical for engineering professionals working on the evaluation and control of construction costs.
基金primarily supported by the National Key R&D Program of China[grant number 2021YFC3000904]the Jiangsu Provincial Key Technology R&D Program[grant number BE2022851]National Natural Science Foundation of China[grant number 42405035]。
文摘Vector winds play a crucial role in weather and climate,as well as the effective utilization of wind energy resources.However,limited research has been conducted on treating the wind field as a vector field in the evaluation of numerical weather prediction models.In this study,the authors treat vector winds as a whole by employing a vector field evaluation method,and evaluate the mesoscale model of the China Meteorological Administration(CMA-MESO)and ECMWF forecast,with reference to ERA5 reanalysis,in terms of multiple aspects of vector winds over eastern China in 2022.The results show that the ECMWF forecast is superior to CMA-MESO in predicting the spatial distribution and intensity of 10-m vector winds.Both models overestimate the wind speed in East China,and CMA-MESO overestimates the wind speed to a greater extent.The forecasting skill of the vector wind field in both models decreases with increasing lead time.The forecasting skill of CMA-MESO fluctuates more and decreases faster than that of the ECMWF forecast.There is a significant negative correlation between the model vector wind forecasting skill and terrain height.This study provides a scientific evaluation of the local application of vector wind forecasts of the CMA-MESO model and ECMWF forecast.
基金supported by the Government of the Northwest Territories in Canada and the John McMurry Research Chair in Environmental Geography at Wilfrid Laurier University.
文摘Climate change is increasingly affecting all aspects of protected areas management from changes of species ranges to visitor experiences.Due to these impacts,there is a need for managers to take more robust approaches to con-sidering the implications of climate change on the overall application and efficacy of protected areas management direction,including the achievement of the goals and objectives contained within management plans.Through a systematic and comprehensive content analysis approach,this study assesses the current extent to which climate change is considered in Canadian protected area management plans.Specifically,we evaluated 63 terrestrial protected area management plans against a set of climate robustness principles.Our content analysis revealed that climate change is currently not effectively factored into Canadian protected area management plans with an average climate robustness score of 18%.Climate robustness score was not found to be correlated with protected area size,International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN)management classification,or jurisdictional authority.Certain climate robustness principles received higher scores across the management plans than oth-ers.For example,the principles of‘diverse knowledge sources’and‘addresses climate change’scored relatively highly whereas‘climate change vulnerability’and‘ecosystem integrity’received the lowest scores.The lack of integration of ecological integrity considerations in management plans was a particularly noteworthy deficiency considering that this guiding principle is the primary legislative objective of many national and sub-national protected areas in Canada.From this assessment,climate change needs to be more effectively and consistently integrated into protected area management plan development and coordinated across associated planning pro-cesses.We discuss the ways in which this can be achieved,for example,by integrating scenario planning into organizational management plan development processes.
基金financially supported by the Consulting Research Project of the Chinese Academy of Engineering,China(Nos.2024-XBZD-10 and 2024-XZ-20).
文摘The rapid growth of semiconductor,photovoltaic,and other emerging industries has led to a sharp increase in the demand for high-purity quartz in China,particularly 4N5-grade(99.995%pure SiO_(2)).However,heavy reliance on imported high-purity quartz poses a significant risk to the security of key national strategic industries.To address this challenge,China is focusing on identifying domestic sources of high-purity quartz and developing efficient evaluation methods.This study investigates the inclusion content in three types of quartz:pegmatite,vein quartz,and white granite.A grading system based on the transmittance of quartz grains was established by analyz-ing the number of inclusions.Five quartz ore samples from different regions were purified,and the resulting concentrates were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS).The relationships among the inclusion content of raw quartz,impurity composition of purified quartz,and quality of sintered fused quartz products were examined.The findings demonstrate that quartz with fewer inclusions results in lower impurity levels after purification,higher SiO_(2)purity,and more translucent glass,as confirmed by firing tests.Herein,this study establishes a clear connection between quartz inclusions and the overall quality of high-purity quartz.The pro-posed approach enables the rapid assessment of quartz deposit quality by identifying inclusions,offering a practical and efficient method for locating high-quality quartz resources.
文摘During the final proofing stage of the paper,the wrong version of Fig.2 was accidently used when replacing it with a high-resolution version.The star and circle marks were missing in the published version.
文摘BACKGROUND Gastric cancer(GC)remains a significant global health challenge,with high incidence and mortality rates.Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is increasingly used to improve surgical outcomes and long-term survival in advanced cases.However,individual responses to treatment vary widely,and current imaging methods often fall short in accurately predicting efficacy.Advanced imaging techniques,such as computed tomography(CT)3D reconstruction and texture analysis,offer potential for more precise assessment of therapeutic response.AIM To explore the application value of CT 3D reconstruction volume change rate,texture feature analysis,and visual features in assessing the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced GC.METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical and imaging data of 97 patients with advanced GC who received S-1 plus Oxaliplatin combined chemotherapy regimen neoadjuvant chemotherapy from January 2022 to March 2024.CT texture feature analysis was performed using MaZda software,and ITK-snap software was used to measure the tumor volume change rate before and after chemotherapy.CT visual features were also evaluated.Using postoperative pathological tumor regression grade(TRG)as the gold standard,the correlation between various indicators and chemotherapy efficacy was analyzed,and a predictive model was constructed and internally validated.RESULTS The minimum misclassification rate of texture features in venous phase CT images(7.85%)was lower than in the arterial phase(13.92%).The volume change rate in the effective chemotherapy group(75.20%)was significantly higher than in the ineffective group(41.75%).There was a strong correlation between volume change rate and TRG grade(r=-0.886,P<0.001).Multivariate analysis showed that gastric wall peristalsis(OR=0.286)and thickness change rate≥40%(OR=0.265)were independent predictive factors.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the volume change rate[area under the curve(AUC)=0.885]was superior to the CT visual feature model(AUC=0.795).When the cutoff value was 82.56%,the sensitivity and specificity were 85.62%and 96.45%,respectively.CONCLUSION The CT 3D reconstruction volume change rate can serve as a preferred quantitative indicator for evaluating the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in GC.Combining it with a CT visual feature predictive model can further improve the accuracy of efficacy evaluation.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82072732.
文摘BACKGROUND Endoscopy allows for the direct observation of primary tumor characteristics and responses after neoadjuvant treatment.However,reports on endoscopic evaluation following neoadjuvant immunotherapy remain limited.AIM To examine the predictive value of endoscopic findings of primary tumors for responses to neoadjuvant immunotherapy.METHODS This retrospective study,conducted at a tertiary center in China,evaluated 74 patients with colorectal cancer,including 17 with deficient mismatch repair(dMMR)and 15 with proficient mismatch repair(pMMR)tumors.Patients underwent neoadjuvant immunotherapy followed by surgery.Endoscopic findings before and after neoadjuvant immunotherapy were reviewed and compared with the pathology of the resected specimens.RESULTS In the pMMR group(n=57 evaluable patients),endoscopy identified 11/17 patients who achieved a complete response(CR),while misidentifying 1/40 patients with residual disease as CR(64.7%vs 2.5%,P<0.01).Conversely,22/40 patients with residual disease were accurately identified as achieving a partial response(PR),with 1/17 patients who achieved CR misclassified as PR(55.0%vs 5.9%,P<0.01).The sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of endoscopic diagnosis for pathological CR were 64.7%,97.5%,and 87.7%,respectively.In the dMMR cohort,endoscopy classified 9/17 patients as CR and 2 of the remaining patients with residual tumors as PR(64.3%vs 66.7%,P=0.73).The method demonstrated 100%sensitivity and 82.4%accuracy in diagnosing pathological CR.CONCLUSION Endoscopic evidence of CR or PR was well correlated with postoperative pathological outcomes in the pMMR cohort.Despite endoscopic indications of tumor residue,a complete pathological response post-surgery was possible in the dMMR cohort.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81573542)Shanxi Province's Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Innovation Project(2100601).
文摘Objective:To explore a rapid and accurate method for evaluating the quality of Prunus mandshurica(Maxim.)Koehne(P.mandshurica,Ku Xing Ren)during rancidity using machine vision and learning.Methods:Sensory evaluation and chemometrics were used to classify P.mandshurica quality grades after rancidity.Chemical indicators of the P.mandshurica quality change were determined to verify the ob-tained grades and support the subsequent modeling.The International Commission on Illumination color space was used to extract the color features of the P.mandshurica.Discrimination and prediction models based on color features combined with multiple machine learning algorithms were established using 10-fold cross-validation and external test set validation.Results:The P.mandshurica rancidity samples were allocated to three quality grades.The Bayes net model based on powder color successfully identified the P.mandshurica at different grades with an accuracy of 88.89%and 100%using two validations,and the naive Bayes model based on section color achieved the same accuracy with an receiver operating characteristic area of 0.979.The instance-based k-nearest neighbors model based on powder color performed best in predicting the amygdalin content[R^(2)=0.9801,mean absolute error(MAE)=0.2071,root mean squared error(RMSE)=0.4170],followed by the random com-mittee model in predicting the acid value(R^(2)=0.9580,MAE=1.5121,RMSE=1.9099)and the random forest model in predicting the peroxide value(R^(2)=0.8857,MAE=0.0027,RMSE=0.0035).Conclusion:This study demonstrates that color digitization analysis is a potential method for rapidly evaluating the quality of P.mandshurica across the rancidity process,providing a new reference for the quality assessment of traditional Chinese medicines.
文摘Google Gemini 1.5 Flash scores were compared with ChatGPT 4o-mini on evaluations of(a)51 of the author’s journal articles and(b)up to 200 articles in each of 34 field-based Units of Assessment(UoAs)from the UK Research Excellence Framework(REF)2021.From(a),the results suggest that Gemini 1.5 Flash,unlike ChatGPT 4o-mini,may work better when fed with a PDF or article full text,rather than just the title and abstract.From(b),Gemini 1.5 Flash seems to be marginally less able to predict an article’s research quality(using a departmental quality proxy indicator)than ChatGPT 4o-mini,although the differences are small,and both have similar disciplinary variations in this ability.Averaging multiple runs of Gemini 1.5 Flash improves the scores.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42090054,42377192)the Scientific Research Project of Power China Huadong Engineering Corporation Limited(No.KY2022-KC-02-02)the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province,China(No.2022CFA002)。
文摘0 INTRODUCTION Submarine slope slides refer to a geological process occurring on submarine slopes or continental margin slopes,where a large amount of sediment or rock layers on the slope lose stability and slide downward along the sliding surface(Kamran et al.,2023;Tong et al.,2023;Hampton et al.,1996).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.61872189)。
文摘Current mainstream unsupervised video object segmentation(UVOS) approaches typically incorporate optical flow as motion information to locate the primary objects in coherent video frames. However, they fuse appearance and motion information without evaluating the quality of the optical flow. When poor-quality optical flow is used for the interaction with the appearance information, it introduces significant noise and leads to a decline in overall performance. To alleviate this issue, we first employ a quality evaluation module(QEM) to evaluate the optical flow. Then, we select high-quality optical flow as motion cues to fuse with the appearance information, which can prevent poor-quality optical flow from diverting the network's attention. Moreover, we design an appearance-guided fusion module(AGFM) to better integrate appearance and motion information. Extensive experiments on several widely utilized datasets, including DAVIS-16, FBMS-59, and You Tube-Objects, demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms existing methods.
文摘With rising demand for clean energy,global focus turns to finding ideal sites for large-scale underground hydrogen storage(UHS)in depleted petroleum reservoirs.A thorough preliminary reservoir evaluation before hydrogen(H_(2))injection is crucial for UHS success and safety.Recent criteria for UHS often emphasize economics and chemistry,neglecting key reservoir attributes.This study introduces a comprehensive framework for the reservoir-scale preliminary assessment,specifically tailored for long-term H_(2) storage within depleted gas reservoirs.The evaluation criteria encompass critical components,including reservoir geometry,petrophysical properties,tectonics,and formation fluids.To illustrate the practical application of this approach,we assess the Barnett shale play reservoir parameters.The assessment unfolds through three key stages:(1)A systematic evaluation of the reservoir's properties against our comprehensive screening criteria determines its suitability for H_(2) storage.(2)Using both homogeneous and multilayered gas reservoir models,we explore the feasibility and efficiency of H_(2) storage.This phase involves an in-depth examination of reservoir behavior during the injection stage.(3)To enhance understanding of UHS performance,sensitivity analyses investigate the impact of varying reservoir dimensions and injection/production pressures.The findings reveal the following:(a)Despite potential challenges associated with reservoir compaction and aquifer support,the reservoir exhibits substantial promise as an H_(2) storage site.(b)Notably,a pronounced increase in reservoir pressure manifests during the injection stage,particularly in homogeneous reservoirs.(c)Furthermore,optimizing injection-extraction cycle efficiency can be achieved by augmenting reservoir dimensions while maintaining a consistent thickness.To ensure a smooth transition to implementation,further comprehensive investigations are advised,including experimental and numerical studies to address injectivity concerns and explore storage site development.This evaluation framework is a valuable tool for assessing the potential of depleted gas reservoirs for large-scale hydrogen storage,advancing global eco-friendly energy systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42075182)。
文摘Black carbon(BC)is associated with adverse human health and climate change.Mapping BC spatial distribution imperatively requires low-cost and portable devices.Several portable BC monitors are commercially available,but their accuracy and reliability are not always satisfactory during continuous field observation.This study evaluated three models of portable black carbon monitors,C12,MA350 and DST,and investigates the factors that affect their performance.The monitors were tested in urban Beijing,where portable devices running for one month alongside a regular-size reference aethalometer AE33.The study considers several factors that could influence the monitors'performance,including ambient weather,aerosol composition,loading artifacts,and built-in algorithms.The results show that MA350and DST present considerable discrepancies to the reference instrument,mainly occurring at lower concentrations(0-500 ng/m^(3))and higher concentrations(2500-8000 ng/m^(3)),respectively.These discrepancies were likely caused by the anomalous noise of MA350 and the loading artifacts of DST.The study also suggests that the ambient environment has limited influence on the monitors'performance,but loading artifacts and accompanying compensation algorithms can result in unrealistic data.Based on the evaluation,the study suggests that C12 is the best choice for unsupervised field measurement,DST should be used in scenarios where frequent maintenance is available,and MA350 is suitable for research purposes with post-processing applicable.The study highlights the importance of assigning portable BC monitors to appropriate applications and the need for optimized real-time compensation algorithms.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFB3705803)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52031007)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin(22JCQNJC00950)the Scientific and Technological Project of Yunnan Precious Metals Laboratory(YPML-2023050275).
文摘For the evaluation of cavitation erosion resistance of metallic materials,it has always been a time-consuming technical problem.This paper innovatively proposed a parameter named cavitation hardening rate to characterize the plastic deformation and work hardening behavior of metallic materials during the cavitation process and then found a positive correlation between cavitation hardening rate and strain hardening index.Finally,the relationship between cavitation volume loss and strain hardening index was obtained,and a simple and rapid evaluation method for cavitation erosion resistance was established.
文摘In order to explore the correlation of 3 different methods of evaluating the degree of skin redness,45 healthy Chinese subjects aged 18~45 were recruited to attend a human efficacy evaluation test.An emulsion product which declares soothing and repair efficacy was used each time in the morning and evening for 4 weeks.Three methods,including visual assessment,image analysis and instrument measurement,were taken to test the related indices of skin redness degree respectively.The improvement of skin redness and the correlation of 3 methods were evaluated by comparing the changes of each index before and after using the product.The results show that the face redness degree score and the image analysis a*value significantly reduce at all time points after using the sample(P<0.05),while the instrument probe a*value significantly reduce at the time point after using for 2 weeks(P<0.05).The correlation coefficient of the face redness degree score and the instrument probe a*value is more than 0.33 and less than 0.67,and the significance level is less than 0.01.Therefore,the sample has soothing and repair efficacy for improving skin redness;and the methods of visual assessment and instrument measurement present moderate positive correlation.
文摘In 2019,the United Arab Emirates(UAE)became the first Arab country to integrate Chinese language education into its national basic education system,employing 172 Chinese language teachers and educating over 54,000 Emirati students by 2022.In response to the global pandemic,the UAE also became the first Arab nation to implement distance learning on a national scale,transitioning public schools to this mode of instruction in March 2020.However,existing research on distance Chinese learning primarily focuses on international students in Chinese universities or countries where Chinese language education is more established,and mainly targets older age groups such as university and high school students.There is currently no research dedicated to distance Chinese learning in the UAE.This paper addresses this research gap by exploring three key aspects.The first section reviews current literature on the key stakeholders and influencing factors in distance learning.The second section examines the development of distance Chinese language education and proposes an initial evaluation framework for this field.The third section analyzes the current state of distance Chinese learning in the UAE,highlighting specific issues that warrant further scholarly attention.This study serves as a valuable reference for researchers interested in advancing research on both distance learning and Chinese language education in the UAE.
文摘University teachers play an important role in promoting moral and political education among university students.Regular and long-term construction of teachers’morality and ethics will contribute to the success of the fundamental task of cultivating talents.The present study proposes that due to the multiple identities of university teachers,it is necessary to evaluate the construction of teachers’morality and ethics in terms of what to evaluate and how to evaluate?It is expected that the attempt will provide useful guidance for the construction of university teachers’morality and ethics.
基金Doctors of BC and the British Columbia Ministry of Health,Grant/Award Number:GR005415。
文摘Background:The sustainability of rural surgical and obstetrical facilities depends on their efficacy and quality of care,which are difficult to measure in a rural context.In an evaluation of rural practice,it is often the case that the only comparators are larger referral facilities,for which facility‐level comparisons are difficult due to differences in population demographics,acuity of patients,and services offered.This publication outlines these limitations and highlights a best‐practice approach to making facility‐level comparisons using population‐level data,risk stratification,tests of noninfer-iority,and Firth logistic regression analysis.This includes an investigation of minimum sample‐size requirements through Monte Carlo power analysis in the context of low‐acuity rural surgical care.Methods:Monte Carlo power analysis was used to estimate the minimum sample size required to achieve a power of 0.8 for both logistic regression and Firth logistic regression models that compare the proportion of surgical adverse events against facility type,among other confounders.We provide guidelines for the implementation of a recommended methodology that uses risk stratification,Firth penalized logistic regression,and tests of noninferiority.Results:We illustrate limitations in facility‐level comparison of surgical quality among patients undergoing one of four index procedures including hernia repair,colonoscopy,appendectomy,and cesarean delivery.We identified minimum sample sizes for comparison of each index procedure that fluctuate depending on the level of risk stratification used.Conclusion:The availability of administrative data can provide an adequate sample size to allow for facility‐level comparisons in surgical quality,at the rural level and elsewhere.When they are made appropriately,these comparisons can be used to evaluate the efficacy of general practitioners and nurse practitioners in performing low‐acuity procedures.
基金provided by Ministry of Science and Technology(Grant No.MOST 107-2410-H-034-056-MY3).
文摘The central concept of strategic benchmarking is resource management efficiency,which ultimately results in profitability.However,little is known about performance measurement from resource-based perspectives.This study uses the data envelopment analysis(DEA)model with a dynamic network structure to measure the resource management and profitability efficiencies of 287 US commercial banks from 2010 to 2020.Furthermore,we provide frontier projections and incorporate five variables,namely capital adequacy,asset quality,management quality,earning ability,and liquidity(i.e.,the CAMEL ratings).The results revealed that the room for improvement in bank performance is 55.4%.In addition,we found that the CAMEL ratings of efficient banks are generally higher than those of inefficient banks,and management quality,earnings quality,and liquidity ratios positively contribute to bank performance.Moreover,big banks are generally more efficient than small banks.Overall,this study continues the current heated debate on performance measurement in the banking industry,with a particular focus on the DEA application to answer the fundamental question of why resource management efficiency reflects benchmark firms and provides insights into how efficient management of CAMEL ratings would help in improving their performance.
文摘Background:The number of medical research publications by Chinese clinical investigators has risen substantially,contributing to 14.63%of the global total in 2019;however,their tangible impact on clinical decisionmaking remains limited.Various evaluation methods have been developed to measure hospital research competence in China,such as Fudan University's China hospital ranking and Science and Technology Evaluation Metrics(STEM)ranking,which predominantly focuses on factors such as academic reputation,volume of publications and patents,and research resources.However,composite indices may not fully capture the actual clinical value generated by medical research.To address this gap,we introduced the“Clinical Influence and Timeliness Evaluation(CITE)”metric to assess both the clinical importance of a given medical research study and the clinical influence of the hospital where it originated.The methodology used relies on the premise that influential medical research would be referenced in clinical guidelines,which serve as critical resources for clinicians.Methods:The CITE metric was applied for 78,636 medical studies concerning chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)published between 2000 and 2020 and referenced in both Chinese and international clinical guidelines for COPD.Specific indexes and formulas were derived to quantify the clinical weight of a medical research study(W)and its timeliness(T),enabling a dynamic assessment of the clinical value of each study and the overall contribution of a particular hospital.Results:In this analysis,we incorporated 499 hospitals in China and quantitatively identified their dynamic clinical influence in COPD from 2000 to 2020.Our findings offer objective and targeted evaluation metrics by focusing on clinical relevance and recognizing the collaborative nature of medical research.Conclusion:The CITE metric provides an innovative method to gauge the true impact of medical research in China,with potential applications across different medical specialties.CITE can serve as a useful tool for understanding the relationship between research input and practical clinical outcomes,ultimately promoting more clinically relevant research endeavors.
