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
Deep high-energy rock masses are susceptible to dynamic and static disasters in underground caverns when stress waves superimpose on them. Scientifically evaluating the stability of surrounding rock mass under such co...Deep high-energy rock masses are susceptible to dynamic and static disasters in underground caverns when stress waves superimpose on them. Scientifically evaluating the stability of surrounding rock mass under such conditions is fundamental for predicting and preventing related hazards. This study combines laboratory dynamic disturbance tests with numerical simulations to analyze changes in the three-dimensional stress state of surrounding rock caused by stress waves. It was found that stress waves not only alter the magnitude of unit stresses but also cause rotation of the principal stress axes. Based on the failure approach index(FAI), a new dynamic response evaluation index for brittle surrounding rock—the Energy Hazard Index(FAI_(E)) is proposed from an energy perspective. This index can derive functional expressions based on different strength criteria, offering good extensibility. Using the Mohr-Coulomb strength criterion as an example, the specific functional expression of FAI_(E) is provided. Comparison with experimental results confirms that the evaluation outcomes align with the dynamic response characteristics of surrounding rock mass, simultaneously considering both tensile and shear failure modes. Parameter sensitivity tests demonstrate the applicability of the index under complex conditions. Furthermore, the relationship between FAIE and commonly used dynamic disturbance evaluation parameters—such as Peak Particle Velocity(PPV)—has been examined, demonstrating that FAIE provides a more accurate and direct assessment of stability. Finally, a rapid engineering application method for FAIE is presented. The research findings hold significant importance for future stability evaluation and support design of surrounding rock in deep underground engineering projects.展开更多
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
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
The Shan-Shui Initiative has attracted global attention in massively contained ecological deterioration and restored millions of hectares of land in China.There are high hopes for this new combination of protection,re...The Shan-Shui Initiative has attracted global attention in massively contained ecological deterioration and restored millions of hectares of land in China.There are high hopes for this new combination of protection,restoration,and management of ecosystems,its overall benefits,however,remain uncertain.Here,we employed ecosystem service(ES)indicators to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of all pilot projects since 2016 at the national scale.Results show that after the implementation of Shan-Shui Initiative,ES have significantly improved,with increases in water yield(14.3%),carbon sequestration(13.7%),soil conservation(6.5%),windbreak sand fixation(5.0%),and habitat quality(0.7%).The changes in ES were driven by both the Shan-Shui Initiative and climate change.Projects with longer implementation periods showed a more pronounced trend of growth in ESs,particularly evident in the ecological space.The spillover effects were widely present and the prevalence of positive spillover effects was notably greater than that of negative ones.Furthermore,the diverse interventions implemented in the Shan-Shui project had varying impacts on ES across different regions.Overall,these interventions showed a positive influence on ESs,although the degree of trade-off showed a south-high and north-low pattern.This highlights the necessity for ecological restoration efforts to carefully consider regional differences.This study may provide policy guidance for optimizing the layout and sustainable management of Shan-Shui ecological restoration projects.展开更多
Evaluating the prognostic significance of biomarkers in pancreatic cyst fluid,accessed through endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration,is essential for improving the clinical management of pancreatic cysts...Evaluating the prognostic significance of biomarkers in pancreatic cyst fluid,accessed through endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration,is essential for improving the clinical management of pancreatic cysts.This review synthesizes the evidence from studies published on the field in the last years,focusing on the accuracy and clinical utility of biomarkers such as carcinoembryonic antigen,intracystic glucose,and novel genetic markers including DNA mutation analysis.Our findings indicate that elevated carcinoembryonic antigen levels and decreased intra-cystic glucose levels are strongly associated with mucinous cysts which carry a higher malignancy risk,while DNA mutation analysis has shown increased predictive accuracy for identifying malignant transformations.Integrating these biomarkers with imaging techniques enhances risk stratification and can significantly influence therapeutic decisions.The review highlights the need for standardization of biomarker assays and further validation of biomarker panels to refine their prognostic value in clinical settings,ultimately aiding in the tailored management of patients with pancreatic cysts.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
Body mass index(BMI),with its simple formula of weight divided by height squared,has become a cornerstone tool in global public health for assessing obesity and health risks.However,as populations aging and the demand...Body mass index(BMI),with its simple formula of weight divided by height squared,has become a cornerstone tool in global public health for assessing obesity and health risks.However,as populations aging and the demand for precise health evaluation grows,the limitations of this single metric have become increasingly apparent—it fails to distinguish between muscle and adipose tissue and cannot capture the complex relationship between inflammatory status and body composition.A recent study published in Biomedical and Environmental Sciences(BES)by Zhang et al.[1],which explores the association of white blood cell(WBC)count,platelet(PLT)count,and platelet-to-white blood cell ratio(PWR)with muscle mass among Chinese communitydwelling older adults,provides critical evidence for rethinking the role of BMI.Additionally,several studies published in BES,spanning from childhood nutrition to adult metabolism,further illuminate the complexity of health assessment[2−5].Building on these findings and integrating evidence from multiple Chinese population studies,this commentary revisits the historical context,utility,inherent limitations,and future directions of this classic indicator.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
To solve the problems that the exception handling code is hard to test and maintain and that it affects the robustness and reliability of software, a method for evaluating the exception handling of programs is present...To solve the problems that the exception handling code is hard to test and maintain and that it affects the robustness and reliability of software, a method for evaluating the exception handling of programs is presented. The exception propagation graph （EPG） that describes the large programs with exception handling constructs is proposed by simplifying the control flow graph and it is applied to a case to verify its validity. According to the EPG, the exception handling code that never executes is identified; the points that are the most critical to controlling exception propagation are found; and the irrational exception handling code is corrected. The constructing algorithm for the EPG is given; thus, this provides a basis for automatically constructing the EPG and automatically correcting the irrational exception handling code.展开更多
Teaching involves finding out about students'misunderstandings,intervening to change them and creating a context of learning that encourages students to engage with the subject matter.This theory of making student...Teaching involves finding out about students'misunderstandings,intervening to change them and creating a context of learning that encourages students to engage with the subject matter.This theory of making student learning possible is very much concerned with the content of what students have to learn in relation to how it should be taught.Evaluation implies collecting information about our work,interpreting the information and making judgments about which actions we should take to improve practice.Evaluation is an analytical process that is intrinsic to good teaching.展开更多
Considering the difficulty of fuzzy synthetic evaluation method in calculation of the multiple factors and ignorance of the relationship among evaluating objects, a new weight evaluation process using entropy method w...Considering the difficulty of fuzzy synthetic evaluation method in calculation of the multiple factors and ignorance of the relationship among evaluating objects, a new weight evaluation process using entropy method was introduced. This improved method for determination of weight of the evaluating indicators was applied in water quality assessment of the Three Gorges reservoir area. The results showed that this method was favorable for fuzzy synthetic evaluation when there were more than one evaluating objects. One calculation was enough for calculating every monitoring point. Compared with the original evaluation method, the method predigested the fuzzy synthetic evaluation process greatly and the evaluation results are more reasonable.展开更多
Eleven evaluating parameters for rice core collection were assessed based on genotypic values and molecular marke＇ information. Monte Carlo simulation combined with mixed linear model was used to eliminate the interf...Eleven evaluating parameters for rice core collection were assessed based on genotypic values and molecular marke＇ information. Monte Carlo simulation combined with mixed linear model was used to eliminate the interference from environment in order to draw more reliable results. The coincidence rate of range （CR） was the optimal parameter. Mean Simpson index （MD）, mean Shannon-Weaver index of genetic diversity （M1） and mean polymorphism information content （MPIC） were important evaluating parameters. The variable rate of coefficient of variation （VR） could act as an important reference parameter for evaluating the variation degree of core collection. Percentage of polymorphic loci （p） could be used as a determination parameter for the size of core collection. Mean difference percentage （MD） was a determination parameter for the reliability judgment of core collection. The effective evaluating parameters for core collection selected in the research could be used as criteria for sampling percentage in different plant germplasm populations.展开更多
Using the SeaBeam technology, the morphology of seamount and its relation to the formation of cobalt-rich crust in the central Pacific Ocean were surveyed during the cruise in 2003 for marine mineral resources. The re...Using the SeaBeam technology, the morphology of seamount and its relation to the formation of cobalt-rich crust in the central Pacific Ocean were surveyed during the cruise in 2003 for marine mineral resources. The result shows that seamounts can be divided morphologically into the spire seamount and the fiat topped seamount. These two types of seamount bear great differences in their landform, lithology and cobalt-rich crust. On the upper portion of the fiat topped seamount, the fiat top and the sharp escarpments are unfavorable to the growth of crust, and, consequently, the crusts here are mostly laminar or gravelly, their thicknesses generally show great variations, and the consecutive ore body often develops in its deep water region. On the spire topped seamount, however, the fiat area is small, and its gradient is constant without large variation from the top to the bottom. This favors the growth of cobalt-rich crust and often leads to consecutive tabular ore body of medium thickness, occurring on the spire topped seamount from the shallow water region to the deep water region. The cobalt-rich crust on the spire topped seamount is much better than that on the fiat topped seamount for the crust abundance, crust coverage and number of ore-occurrences within unit area. Furthermore, the crust on the spire topped seamount is rich in cobalt, nickel, manganese elements of high economic value. Because the crust with high quality ore often occurs in the shallow water region on the spire topped seamount, it can be mined and use more easily in the future.展开更多
Owing to overcoming the characteristics that there are many economic and technical indexes which are fuzzy and incompatibility to each other in evaluating investment project,a new method is proposed.The method is base...Owing to overcoming the characteristics that there are many economic and technical indexes which are fuzzy and incompatibility to each other in evaluating investment project,a new method is proposed.The method is based on the matter-element analysis and combined with the concepts of fuzzy mathematics,which is called the method of fuzzy matter-element analysis.It constructs the compound fuzzy matter element with the investment projects,evaluation factors and their fuzzy value.Through establishing the best subjection degree (fuzzy value),complex fuzzy matter element of relational coefficient and weight aggregation of fuzzy matter-element model,the writer achieves on optimum order of the investment projects according to the calculated relational degree and finds the best project.In this paper,the calculation of weight adopts the analytical hierarchy process method(AHP).Through the actual example,it shows that the model is simple and its calculation is reliable.It is very significant for the engineering evaluated bid and investment decision.展开更多
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 National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.52279116,Grant No.52109142)the Key projects of the Yalong River Joint Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.U1865203)。
文摘Deep high-energy rock masses are susceptible to dynamic and static disasters in underground caverns when stress waves superimpose on them. Scientifically evaluating the stability of surrounding rock mass under such conditions is fundamental for predicting and preventing related hazards. This study combines laboratory dynamic disturbance tests with numerical simulations to analyze changes in the three-dimensional stress state of surrounding rock caused by stress waves. It was found that stress waves not only alter the magnitude of unit stresses but also cause rotation of the principal stress axes. Based on the failure approach index(FAI), a new dynamic response evaluation index for brittle surrounding rock—the Energy Hazard Index(FAI_(E)) is proposed from an energy perspective. This index can derive functional expressions based on different strength criteria, offering good extensibility. Using the Mohr-Coulomb strength criterion as an example, the specific functional expression of FAI_(E) is provided. Comparison with experimental results confirms that the evaluation outcomes align with the dynamic response characteristics of surrounding rock mass, simultaneously considering both tensile and shear failure modes. Parameter sensitivity tests demonstrate the applicability of the index under complex conditions. Furthermore, the relationship between FAIE and commonly used dynamic disturbance evaluation parameters—such as Peak Particle Velocity(PPV)—has been examined, demonstrating that FAIE provides a more accurate and direct assessment of stability. Finally, a rapid engineering application method for FAIE is presented. The research findings hold significant importance for future stability evaluation and support design of surrounding rock in deep underground engineering projects.
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.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFF1303205)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.2652022005)。
文摘The Shan-Shui Initiative has attracted global attention in massively contained ecological deterioration and restored millions of hectares of land in China.There are high hopes for this new combination of protection,restoration,and management of ecosystems,its overall benefits,however,remain uncertain.Here,we employed ecosystem service(ES)indicators to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of all pilot projects since 2016 at the national scale.Results show that after the implementation of Shan-Shui Initiative,ES have significantly improved,with increases in water yield(14.3%),carbon sequestration(13.7%),soil conservation(6.5%),windbreak sand fixation(5.0%),and habitat quality(0.7%).The changes in ES were driven by both the Shan-Shui Initiative and climate change.Projects with longer implementation periods showed a more pronounced trend of growth in ESs,particularly evident in the ecological space.The spillover effects were widely present and the prevalence of positive spillover effects was notably greater than that of negative ones.Furthermore,the diverse interventions implemented in the Shan-Shui project had varying impacts on ES across different regions.Overall,these interventions showed a positive influence on ESs,although the degree of trade-off showed a south-high and north-low pattern.This highlights the necessity for ecological restoration efforts to carefully consider regional differences.This study may provide policy guidance for optimizing the layout and sustainable management of Shan-Shui ecological restoration projects.
文摘Evaluating the prognostic significance of biomarkers in pancreatic cyst fluid,accessed through endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration,is essential for improving the clinical management of pancreatic cysts.This review synthesizes the evidence from studies published on the field in the last years,focusing on the accuracy and clinical utility of biomarkers such as carcinoembryonic antigen,intracystic glucose,and novel genetic markers including DNA mutation analysis.Our findings indicate that elevated carcinoembryonic antigen levels and decreased intra-cystic glucose levels are strongly associated with mucinous cysts which carry a higher malignancy risk,while DNA mutation analysis has shown increased predictive accuracy for identifying malignant transformations.Integrating these biomarkers with imaging techniques enhances risk stratification and can significantly influence therapeutic decisions.The review highlights the need for standardization of biomarker assays and further validation of biomarker panels to refine their prognostic value in clinical settings,ultimately aiding in the tailored management of patients with pancreatic cysts.
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.
文摘Body mass index(BMI),with its simple formula of weight divided by height squared,has become a cornerstone tool in global public health for assessing obesity and health risks.However,as populations aging and the demand for precise health evaluation grows,the limitations of this single metric have become increasingly apparent—it fails to distinguish between muscle and adipose tissue and cannot capture the complex relationship between inflammatory status and body composition.A recent study published in Biomedical and Environmental Sciences(BES)by Zhang et al.[1],which explores the association of white blood cell(WBC)count,platelet(PLT)count,and platelet-to-white blood cell ratio(PWR)with muscle mass among Chinese communitydwelling older adults,provides critical evidence for rethinking the role of BMI.Additionally,several studies published in BES,spanning from childhood nutrition to adult metabolism,further illuminate the complexity of health assessment[2−5].Building on these findings and integrating evidence from multiple Chinese population studies,this commentary revisits the historical context,utility,inherent limitations,and future directions of this classic indicator.
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The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No60503020)the National Basic Research Program of China (973Program) (No2002CB312000)+1 种基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (NoBK2006094)the Science Research Foundation of China University of Mining and Technology
文摘To solve the problems that the exception handling code is hard to test and maintain and that it affects the robustness and reliability of software, a method for evaluating the exception handling of programs is presented. The exception propagation graph （EPG） that describes the large programs with exception handling constructs is proposed by simplifying the control flow graph and it is applied to a case to verify its validity. According to the EPG, the exception handling code that never executes is identified; the points that are the most critical to controlling exception propagation are found; and the irrational exception handling code is corrected. The constructing algorithm for the EPG is given; thus, this provides a basis for automatically constructing the EPG and automatically correcting the irrational exception handling code.
文摘Teaching involves finding out about students'misunderstandings,intervening to change them and creating a context of learning that encourages students to engage with the subject matter.This theory of making student learning possible is very much concerned with the content of what students have to learn in relation to how it should be taught.Evaluation implies collecting information about our work,interpreting the information and making judgments about which actions we should take to improve practice.Evaluation is an analytical process that is intrinsic to good teaching.
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 50378008)
文摘Considering the difficulty of fuzzy synthetic evaluation method in calculation of the multiple factors and ignorance of the relationship among evaluating objects, a new weight evaluation process using entropy method was introduced. This improved method for determination of weight of the evaluating indicators was applied in water quality assessment of the Three Gorges reservoir area. The results showed that this method was favorable for fuzzy synthetic evaluation when there were more than one evaluating objects. One calculation was enough for calculating every monitoring point. Compared with the original evaluation method, the method predigested the fuzzy synthetic evaluation process greatly and the evaluation results are more reasonable.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Grant No. 30270759） the Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province （Grant No. 2005C32001）.
文摘Eleven evaluating parameters for rice core collection were assessed based on genotypic values and molecular marke＇ information. Monte Carlo simulation combined with mixed linear model was used to eliminate the interference from environment in order to draw more reliable results. The coincidence rate of range （CR） was the optimal parameter. Mean Simpson index （MD）, mean Shannon-Weaver index of genetic diversity （M1） and mean polymorphism information content （MPIC） were important evaluating parameters. The variable rate of coefficient of variation （VR） could act as an important reference parameter for evaluating the variation degree of core collection. Percentage of polymorphic loci （p） could be used as a determination parameter for the size of core collection. Mean difference percentage （MD） was a determination parameter for the reliability judgment of core collection. The effective evaluating parameters for core collection selected in the research could be used as criteria for sampling percentage in different plant germplasm populations.
文摘Using the SeaBeam technology, the morphology of seamount and its relation to the formation of cobalt-rich crust in the central Pacific Ocean were surveyed during the cruise in 2003 for marine mineral resources. The result shows that seamounts can be divided morphologically into the spire seamount and the fiat topped seamount. These two types of seamount bear great differences in their landform, lithology and cobalt-rich crust. On the upper portion of the fiat topped seamount, the fiat top and the sharp escarpments are unfavorable to the growth of crust, and, consequently, the crusts here are mostly laminar or gravelly, their thicknesses generally show great variations, and the consecutive ore body often develops in its deep water region. On the spire topped seamount, however, the fiat area is small, and its gradient is constant without large variation from the top to the bottom. This favors the growth of cobalt-rich crust and often leads to consecutive tabular ore body of medium thickness, occurring on the spire topped seamount from the shallow water region to the deep water region. The cobalt-rich crust on the spire topped seamount is much better than that on the fiat topped seamount for the crust abundance, crust coverage and number of ore-occurrences within unit area. Furthermore, the crust on the spire topped seamount is rich in cobalt, nickel, manganese elements of high economic value. Because the crust with high quality ore often occurs in the shallow water region on the spire topped seamount, it can be mined and use more easily in the future.
基金Project supported by the National High-Tech Research and Development program of China (863 Program ) (No.2 0 0 2 AA2 Z42 5 1-2 10 0 41) Postdoctoral Scientific Foundation of Northeast Agricultural U niversity. (No. 2 40 0 0 9) and postdoctoral Scien
文摘Owing to overcoming the characteristics that there are many economic and technical indexes which are fuzzy and incompatibility to each other in evaluating investment project,a new method is proposed.The method is based on the matter-element analysis and combined with the concepts of fuzzy mathematics,which is called the method of fuzzy matter-element analysis.It constructs the compound fuzzy matter element with the investment projects,evaluation factors and their fuzzy value.Through establishing the best subjection degree (fuzzy value),complex fuzzy matter element of relational coefficient and weight aggregation of fuzzy matter-element model,the writer achieves on optimum order of the investment projects according to the calculated relational degree and finds the best project.In this paper,the calculation of weight adopts the analytical hierarchy process method(AHP).Through the actual example,it shows that the model is simple and its calculation is reliable.It is very significant for the engineering evaluated bid and investment decision.
