Dynamic Assessment Research Articles

Sensitivity analysis of truck tire tread material properties for on-road applications

This research delves into the sensitivity analysis of a truck tire rubber compound concerning its impact on tire–road interaction characteristics. Initially, the study employs finite element analysis to model a 315/80R22.5 truck tire, which is subsequently validated through static and dynamic response assessments via various simulation tests. Following validation, the established tire model is utilized to conduct a sensitivity analysis of the tire rubber compound specifically applied on the tread. This analysis encompasses several material definitions, including Mooney–Rivlin, visco-Mooney–Rivlin, linear viscoelastic, and nonlinear viscoelastic materials. By exploring the effects of these material models, the research scrutinizes their influence on tire–road interaction characteristics across diverse operating conditions. The tire–road interaction characteristics include the rolling resistance coefficient, and the cornering force at operating conditions including the longitudinal speed, vertical load, and slip angle. This comprehensive investigation offers insights into the intricate relationship between tire composition and performance, thereby enhancing our understanding of tire behavior and informing potential advancements in tire technology.

Dynamic response and damage assessment of partially confined metallic cylinders under transverse blast loading

Dynamic response and damage assessment of partially confined metallic cylinders under transverse blast loading

Promoting interaction and lowering speaking anxiety in an EMI course: a group dynamic assessment approach

Abstract This study first examined the effectiveness of applying the Group Dynamic Assessment (G-DA) approach to assessing the oral skills of non-native English-speaking university students who are provided with mediation by their teacher in a small group setting. Second, it aimed to understand whether employing innovative G-DA techniques could reduce the speaking anxiety felt by university students if they received support from either their teacher or their peers during assessment. Fifty freshmen’ speaking performance on TOEFL integrated speaking tasks, and their responses to the teacher’s mediation in groups were compared. Results showed that (1) the G-DA approach could be a beneficial tool for assessing English oral proficiency in the EMI context, and (2) the procedures involved in G-DA helped university students feel less anxiety when prompted to respond orally. It provides insights into an alternative approach to assessment which can be employed to group learning in the context of EMI courses.

Abstract RF01-05: Functional assessment of RAD51 foci and replication fork dynamics in PARPi resistant BRCA1/2 mutated breast cancer

Abstract Background: Although platinum salts (Pt) or Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are effective in treating homologous recombination defective (HRD) breast cancer, resistance often emerges, especially in advanced disease. Predicting response and relapse is complex, even in patients with germline BRCA1/2 mutations (gBRCA1/2m). Clinically approved HRD detection methods are limited to identification of pathogenic mutations in HR genes or mutational signatures in the genome of tumors caused by HRD. In PDX models derived from HRD breast cancer, the restoration of nuclear RAD51 foci formation, a key feature of functional HR, can predict resistance to HRD-targeted treatment.1 In addition, the restoration of replication fork stability, despite PARPi or induction of Pt adducts that induce replication fork arrest and collapse, confers resistance in pre-clinical models2; to date this resistance mechanism has not been clinically validated. Here we analyse RAD51 foci in FFPE samples and DNA replication fork dynamics, using DNA fibre combing assays, in patient derived organoids (PDO) relating these to clinical response to illustrate how such assays might predict clinical HRD-targeted therapy resistance in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Patients and Methods: We used immunofluorescent detection of RAD51 foci as a marker for HR proficiency (HRP) in tumors from 29 patients with gBRCA1/2m with MBC treated with HRD-targeted treatment (n=6 PARPi, n=2 Pt and n=21 both agents in sequence). All patients developed resistance that was either de novo or acquired. RAD51 and BRCA1 foci were scored in a minimum of 50 geminin (a marker of S/G2 phase) positive tumor cells; cells with ≥5 foci were classified as positive, and tumours where ≤10% or >10% of cells were positive were considered HRD or HRP, respectively. DNA replication fork dynamics were assessed in with or without PARPi using thymidine analogue labelling. DNA fibre analysis was performed in PDOs developed from fresh tumor sampling of HRD-targeted treatment sensitive or resistant tumors, to determine the relationship between replication fork dynamics, stability and PARPi sensitivity. Results: RAD51 analysis was performed on 9 treatment naïve samples (n=9 patients), 8 samples obtained after HRD-targeted treatment resistance (n=8 patients) and 27 samples obtained pre and post HRD-targeted treatment resistance (n=12 patients). Functional HRD by RAD51 in treatment naive samples was seen in 100% (n=17) of patients with acquired resistance and 66% of patients with de novo resistance. All patients, whether with de novo or acquired resistance, exhibited high RAD51 scores in post-resistance tumour samples, suggesting restoration of HR function is the dominant mechanism of PARPi resistance. As such, RAD51 analysis shows potential as a biomarker of clinical PARPi resistance. Replication fork stability fibre was analysed after exposure to potent PARP1 trapping inhibitors or an ATRi control in 3 PDOs (2 gBRCA1m, 1 BRCAwt). As controls we used an isogenic 2D cell line with and without a CRISPR engineered BRCA1 reversion mutation (SUM149 parental BRCA1m and SUM149BS*1 revertant) or with a PARP1 mutation (SUM149 TR2 clone) that prevents PARP1 being trapped on DNA. These experiments indicate that replication fork dynamics can be assessed in “patient derived” models of breast cancer and that PARPi sensitivity was associated with PARPi induced replication fork instability (median ratio IdU:CldU in resistant lines: 0.98, sensitive lines: 0.60). Conclusion: We show that HRP restoration and RAD51 foci in advanced BRCA1/2m breast cancers is the dominant form resistance to HRD-targeted treatment. We also demonstrate for the first time that analysis of DNA replication fork dynamics can be carried out in breast cancer PDOs and could be further explored as a functional predictive biomarker of PARPi resistance. 1.Pellegrino et al, 2022 (PMID: 35425960) 2.Chaudhuri et al, 2016 (PMID: 27443740) Citation Format: Elizabeth Harvey-Jones, Maya Raghunandan, Luisa Robbez-Masson, Thanussuyah Alaguthurai, Alba Llop-Guevara, Jennifer Trendell, Olga Rodriguez, Marta Guzman, Daniel Weekes, Christelle deRenty, Eleanor Knight, Rebecca Marlow, Christopher Starling, Ruifang Liu, Nivedita Ravindran, Ioannis Roxanis, Natalia Lukashchuk, Violeta Serra, Stephen Pettitt, Christopher Lord, Andrew NJ Tutt. Functional assessment of RAD51 foci and replication fork dynamics in PARPi resistant BRCA1/2 mutated breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr RF01-05.

Exploring the Severity Strata of Disease Activity and Repigmentation in Vitiligo Based on Validated Physician Global Assessment (PGA) Scores

Background/Objectives: There is currently no guidance on how to interpret the global degrees of activity (worsening) and repigmentation (improvement) in vitiligo. Stratification into global degrees can be completed for static evaluations (e.g., visible disease activity signs) and dynamic assessments (e.g., evolution over time). For the latter, the Vitiligo Disease Activity Score (VDAS15&60) and Vitiligo Disease Improvement Score (VDIS15&60) were recently validated. Methods: In the current study, a Physician Global Assessment (PGA) for disease activity (worsening) and repigmentation (improvement) was evaluated for validity (construct) and reliability (inter- and intrarater) based on a photo set of 66 patients. Subsequently, the PGA activity (worsening) and repigmentation (improvement) were used to stratify the Vitiligo Extent Score plus (VESplus), VDAS15&60 or VDIS15&60 into three global categories (slightly, moderately and much worse/improved), based on ROC analysis. Results: For the VESplus, cut-off values for the categories ‘slightly, moderately and much worse’ were >0.3%, >27.71% and >128.75% BSA (relative changes in the affected total BSA), respectively. For the categories ‘slightly, moderately and much improved’, they were >0%, >4.87% and >36.88% BSA (relative changes in the affected total BSA), respectively. The optimal cut-off values of the number of active (VDAS15) body areas were >0 areas for slightly worse, >2 areas for moderately worse and >7 for much worse. For VDIS15, the cut-off values for slightly improved and moderately improved were >0 and >1. For VDAS60 and VDIS60, the cut-off points were >0.5, >3, >9.5 and >0.5 and >1.5, respectively. The results should be interpreted with caution in patients with extensive vitiligo due to the rather limited disease extent of the included patient population (VESplus (median: 3.2%)). Conclusions: This research will aid in the development of more detailed international definitions.

Abstract PS06-04: The prognostic and predictive impact of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) dynamics in patients with metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) on olaparib based therapy: Results from Cohort E of the PlasmaMATCH trial

Abstract Background: Early changes in ctDNA levels, ctDNA dynamics, may help identify which patients are responding to therapy earlier than imaging. Few studies have assessed ctDNA dynamics during PARP inhibitor therapy. Here we report paired baseline and early on treatment ctDNA analysis from cohort E of plasmaMATCH, that recruited patients with TNBC to treatment with olaparib (PARP inhibitor) plus ceralasertib (ATR inhibitor). Methods: The plasmaMATCH trial assessed the ability of ctDNA testing to allocate patients to mutation matched treatment cohorts (A-D). Patients with TNBC, and without mutations matching cohorts B-D, were enrolled on cohort E. Samples were collected for ctDNA analysis pre-treatment at cycle 1-day1 (C1D1) and cycle 2-day 1 (C2D1). A minimum of 14 days of treatment in the first cycle was required for inclusion in this analysis. Samples were sequenced using error-corrected gene targeted panels (Guardant360, or GuardantOMNI, Guardant Health). Circulating DNA ratio (CDR) was calculated as the ratio of C2D1 ctDNA level to C1D1, pre-specified using the weighted mean of variant allele fractions (AF) of clonal mutations at C1D1, excluding variants with AF < 0.3%, and variants in genes frequently mutated in clonal haematopoesis (GNAS, JAK2, IDH1, IDH2 and ATM). The optimal cut-point for predicting progression free survival (PFS) was assessed as the cut-point with the highest Harrell’s C-index. Results: Of the 75 patients that were enrolled into cohort E, 53 patients had samples sent for paired C1D1-C2D1 ctDNA sequencing, 2 failed sequencing, and all 51 (68%) patients had detectable ctDNA at C1D1. The ctDNA analysis set was representative of the overall enrolled population. The optimal ctDNA dynamics C-index cut-point for predicting PFS was 0 (undetectable ctDNA at C2D1). Median PFS with ctDNA CDR >0 (detectable ctDNA at C2D1) was 4.3 months (95% CI 2.4-5.8), and with undetectable ctDNA was 12 months (95% CI 8-NA) (HR 4.02, 95% CI 1.22-13.23, p=0.01). Splitting patients by median CDR was not predictive (HR=0.98; 95%CI: 0.52-1.82, p=0.94). Confirmed objective response rate was 85.7% (42.1-99.6) in patients with undetectable ctDNA at C2D1, and with detectable ctDNA was 11.4% (3.8-24.6) (OR 4.02, 95% CI 1.22-13.23, p=0.01). Of the 7 patients with undetectable ctDNA at C2D1, one had a BRCA2 germline mutation, and all other patients were wildtype for BRCA1/2 mutations in tumour and germline. All patients with undetectable ctDNA and BRCA1/2 wildtype had a confirmed response.In cohorts A-D (mutation targeted therapies, in predominantly ER positive cancer), the optimal ctDNA dynamics C-index CDR cut-point was 0.165 (HR 3.44, 95%CI: 2.06-5.75, p< 0.001), with median CDR cut-point also highly predictive (HR=2.14, 95%CI:1.36-3.36, p=0.001). Undetectable ctDNA was also strongly predictive (HR=4.41; 95%CI: 1.97-9.87, p< 0.001) in cohort A-D.In cohort E, a significant association was found between baseline ctDNA and PFS, with an optimal C-index cutpoint of 6.81% (HR=3.02, 95% CI: 1.39-6.56, p=0.001). Median PFS for baseline ctDNA ≤ 6.81% was 10.2 months (95% CI 3.7-17.2), and for baseline ctDNA >6.81% was 4.4 months (95% CI 2.2-5.5). Conclusions: ‘Clearance’ of ctDNA to become undetectable at C2D1 identified sporadic TNBC patients who benefited from olaparib and ceralasertib. Although ‘clearance’ of ctDNA was associated with good outcome on olaparib plus ceralasertib, median CDR was not predictive of treatment benefit. This contrasts the results of ctDNA dynamic assessment of cohort A-D, where median CDR was highly predictive of treatment benefit. ctDNA dynamic assessment may differ between mutation targeted therapies (cohorts A-D) that induce cell-cycle arrest, and PARP inhibitors (cohort E) that inhibit DNA repair mechanisms. Implementing ctDNA dynamics into clinical trials and care may require distinct analysis for different therapies. Citation Format: Iseult Browne, Javier Pascual, Rosalind Cutts, Belinda Kingston, Sarah Hrebien, Lucy Kilburn, Alex Pearson, Laura Moretti, Andrew Wardley, Iain Macpherson, Richard Baird, Rebecca Roylance, Iris Faull, Kimberly C Banks, Isaac Garcia-Murillas, Judith Bliss, Alistair Ring, Nicholas Turner. The prognostic and predictive impact of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) dynamics in patients with metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) on olaparib based therapy: Results from Cohort E of the PlasmaMATCH trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PS06-04.

Development of a physical capacity framework to support clinical reasoning of physiotherapists treating hospitalised patients

Background Applying an appropriate physiotherapy intervention to a hospitalised patient can be challenging because the clinical status can change rapidly, affecting the patient’s physical capacity. Determining the appropriate type and dose of the physiotherapy intervention requires dynamic assessment of physical capacity and adequate clinical reasoning by the physiotherapist. Purpose To develop a framework for determining physical capacity to support physiotherapists in their clinical reasoning process when treating hospitalised patients. Methods A framework was developed using a multi-method approach. First, the scientific literature was searched for existing frameworks for clinical reasoning in physiotherapy. These methods were inventoried and relevant elements were extracted. Second, a first draft of the framework was developed by a group of experts. Third, the framework was tested in practice, leading to a final version. Results A total of 17 frameworks were identified from the literature. No framework was found for generic use in the hospital for the purpose of determining patient’s physical capacity. Relevant elements from the identified frameworks were: the use of ICF terminology, the use of a patient management model, and frequent monitoring of clinical parameters. Field testing of the first draft of the framework led to improvement of the framework for use in clinical practice. Conclusion A framework was developed to support physiotherapists in their clinical reasoning process when treating hospitalised patients. The framework can provide guidance for determining the patient’s physical capacity to allow for an adequate training stimulus.

Dynamic quantitative assessment of multiple uncertainty sources in future hydropower generation prediction of cascade reservoirs with hydrological variations

Hydropower is the dominant renewable energy source, which can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions while providing electric energy. It is a crucial way to achieve the dual-carbon goal of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. However, climate change inevitably threatens hydropower, either directly or indirectly. Global climate models (GCMs) and hydrological models (HMs) under different representative concentration pathways (RCPs) have been combined to investigate future hydropower generation responses to climate change. The contribution of multiple uncertainty sources to multi-scale hydropower generation uncertainties with hydrological variations remains unclear. Therefore, to address the above challenge, a three-step framework was proposed in this paper: (1) predicting future inflows to reservoirs using three HMs (HBV, SWAT and XAJ) with different structures driven by six GCMs (BNU-ESM, GFDL-ESM2G, GFDL-ESM2M, CanESM2, MIROC-ESM-CHEM and CSIRO-MK3-6-0) under three RCPs (i.e., RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5); (2) diagnosing future hydrological conditions using the Comprehensive Differential Split-sample Test; (3) predicting future hydropower generation of cascade reservoirs by developing a cascade hydropower generation model and dynamically quantifying the contribution of multiple uncertainty sources to multi-scale hydropower generation uncertainties with hydrological conditions based on the variance decomposition method through subsampling. The results indicate that GCMs, HMs, climate emission scenarios and their interactions significantly impacted the uncertainty of hydropower generation with hydrological variations. In the flood season, the relative contributions of GCMs and HMs were the largest, accounting for about 40%. The interaction effects of multiple uncertainty sources gradually increased before, after and during the non-flood season, with its relative contribution accounting for about 36%. These findings can facilitate the active response to the new challenges of strategic hydropower energy development under climate change, reducing the losses caused by climate change.

Some modeling challenges in dynamic life cycle assessment

Life cycle assessment (LCA) has been a mainstream tool to evaluate the environmental impacts of products, services, and systems. Current LCAs inherently rely on the static basis and commonly fail to include temporal considerations. To better assist in the decision-making for sustainable development, dynamic LCA has been initiated to answer more complex and interdisciplinary questions. As in its initial phase, dynamic LCA faces many modeling challenges that at the same time are meaningful research opportunities. In modeling dynamic LCA, there are several key aspects that need more attention for contribution and close collaboration across the first three phases of the LCA framework.

Dynamic assessment of the Malaysia Square Pedestrian Bridge, Battersea Power Station transformation

In this article, Artur Soczawa-Stronczyk discusses his work on a project to assess the dynamic characteristics of the Malaysia Square Pedestrian Bridge – a structure built as part of the transformation of the former Battersea Power Station site in London. The project drew on Artur's MSc and doctoral research into pedestrian-induced vibration to establish that additional damping measures were not required for the bridge. The case study was highly commended in the IStructE's 2022 Research into Practice Case Study competition.

Risks of Goods Transport Focused on the Assessment of Semi-Trailer Dynamics on Highways for Cargo Securing

The issue of the transport of goods is well-known, yet, in practice, there are often cases of damaged shipments due to improper storage and inappropriately chosen transport technology. Many cases are due to ignorance of the basic characteristics of the cargo and, consequently, its transport characteristics. Vehicle dynamics is crucial to the design of proper cargo securing; therefore, this article provides the values of longitudinal and lateral acceleration of a 16.5 m semi-trailer vehicle combination for test routes of length of 10,827 km on highways and other roads in Slovakia, Austria, and Germany from the monitoring of goods. The horizontal acceleration of 0.2 g is considered as the minimum stability of the load unit that should withstand transport. A load unit with a stability from 0.2 g to 0.3 g could be considered as the weakest load unit. The test results show that even the weakest load units such as these can be damaged in transports, as semi-trailer vehicle combinations still reach longitudinal ax1000 and lateral ay1000 accelerations between 0.2 g and 0.3 g relatively frequently. Acceleration events higher than 0.3 g occur very rarely, at 1.4 event/1000 km for roads, but only 0.1 event/1000 km for highways from our test transports. We have demonstrated through our research that it is necessary for the load units to have a minimum stability of 0.2 g. We can conclude that load units with a stability of less than 0.2 g are completely unacceptable for transport without additional securing because we obtained 70.3 acceleration events per 1000 km in the interval from 0.1 g to 0.2 g on highways but 1148.1 events per 1000 km on other roads. There is a big difference between the number of acceleration events per 1000 km on roads and highways for all acceleration intervals, which means that there is a substantially lower probability of damaging the weak load units on highways than on other roads.

Online peer mediation versus teacher mediation in dynamic second language pragmatics assessment

Online peer mediation versus teacher mediation in dynamic second language pragmatics assessment

Dynamic range issues and image information content when visualizing seismic data

   The purpose of this review is to discuss the problem of seismic data visualization in relation to human vision capabilities based on the seismic signal dynamic range assessment.   The ways of increasing the information content and efficiency of visualization methods in terms of increasing their resolution are considered. The conducted analysis has shown that the dynamic range of seismic recordings exceeds the capabilities of the human eye by 2–3 orders of magnitude and the capabilities of technical visualization means by 4–5 orders of magnitude. Color vision models are considered on example of the most versatile hardware additive RGB color model. The model was chosen based on the idea of the human vision system as a set of photosensitive cones that register red, green and blue colors and the human brain, which processes and forms a color image in one’s consciousness. The relationships between monochrome and color images perceived by the human eye based on several types of sensitive receptors have been established. It is concluded that the use of a color image significantly expands information capabilities. Thus, 8 grey steps are enough for the monochrome method of information output, whereas the use of color devices allows to increase the number of steps up to 14. The methodology for solving this problem consists in the application of new technologies based on the use of large-scale and three-dimensional images providing a significant increase in the values of luminous flux, resolution and contrast based on the expansion of the dynamic range taking into consideration the limits of human vision.

Temporal analysis of land degradation and urban expansion in central Yunnan Province using remote sensing for supporting sustainable development goals 11/15

Monitoring land degradation and urban expansion is crucial for sustainable development and environmental stewardship. It helps protect arable land, ensure food security, mitigate climate change impacts, and guide urban growth while minimizing environmental harm, thus advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).This study focuses on the application of the Trends.Earth tool, following the UN-SDG indicator framework, to assess land changes, urban expansion, and drought vulnerability in the central east region of Yunnan Province, China, during the period 2000 to 2020.The analysis reveals significant trends in land transformation and urban growth. Notably, the central Yunnan region demonstrated a positive trajectory, with 69.58% experiencing land improvement and 8.55% undergoing degradation. Urban areas expanded dramatically, with Kunming City growing threefold from 2000 to 2015 raising concerns about sustainable land management. Drought vulnerability assessments unveil the temporal variation and the extent of impact on the population.This research underscores the importance of remote sensing and its role in achieving the SDGs. By providing a comprehensive assessment of land dynamics, urbanization patterns, and environmental vulnerability. As Yunnan Province grapples with both developmental aspirations and ecological conservation imperatives, this study serves as a foundation for informed decision-making to balance economic growth and environmental protection.

The severity of lower urinary tract symptoms during the postoperative period as a factor in choosing an approach to surgical treatment for large prostate hyperplasia: holmium enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) vs laparoscopic simple prostatectomy

Introduction. Analysis of complications after transurethral surgery for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) demonstrates that 20 – 30% of patients require prolonged postoperative treatment for severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) despite improvements in technology and surgical techniques. These complications play a significant role in reducing the quality of life of patients in the postoperative period. Severe storage symptoms and urgent urinary incontinence represent significant challenges in the postoperative phase when performing laser enucleation surgery. There are also limits to standard approaches to perform laparoscopic prostatectomy, which requires the development of improved techniques.Objective. To conduct a comparative assessment of the postoperative dynamics of LUTS in groups undergoing holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), a standard Millin laparoscopic simple prostatectomy (LSP), and a modified LSP.Materials & Methods. This multicenter study included 439 patients who were randomly assigned to 3 groups depending on the surgical treatment technique used for bladder outlet obstruction associated with large-volume BPH: the HoLEP group (n = 151), the standard Millin LSP (n = 142) and the modified LSP, combined with temporary clamping of the internal iliac arteries and vesicourethral anastomosis (n = 146). The main criterion assessed during six-months follow-up was the severity of LUTS on the IPSS scale (obstructive and irritative components). Complications that developed during the postoperative observation period were recorded.Results. A lower severity of LUTS was revealed in the group of the modified LSP compared to the standard LSP and HoLEP (p = 0.041 and p = 0.001, respectively). The average irritative component of IPSS was significantly lower in the modified LSP group compared to the standard LSP and HoLEP (p = 0.032 and p = 0.001, respectively). The observed trend continued to the third month after surgery. Comparison of changes in symptom severity six months after surgery demonstrated a significant advantage for the modified LSP both compared to HoLEP (p = 0.017) and a standard LSP (p = 0.032). All three groups showed comparable significant improvements in quality of life.Conclusion. The severity of postoperative storage symptoms is a limitation of HoLEP use, whereas the standard LSP is associated with lower severity of LUTS. The authors' modification of the LSP has the potential to reduce the severity of storage symptoms in patients for up to three months after surgery, and is associated with a low rate of urge incontinence.

History of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)

The 50th year of the European Federation of Societies in Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) has been celebrated 2022 publishing articles on the history of US. Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) allows to visualize blood flow and tissue perfusion. CEUS has proven to be safe without risk of nephrotoxicity. The availability of a contrast agent (tracer) for ultrasound imaging allows for the first time a dynamic assessment of tissue perfusion (blood flow and wash-in/wash-out pattern) which is an essential part for the detection and characterisation of pathological tissue and abnormal organ function. It was an outstanding achievement of academic centers in close cooperation with EFSUMB to investigate and validate the clinical potential of this new technology for the diagnosis and monitoring of various diseases and to develop clinical guidelines based on an in-depth assessment of the existing scientific publications. An important part of the implementation of CEUS in clinical practice was the development of contrast-specific imaging modes on the ultrasound scanners (in close cooperation with the machine manufacturers), the optimization of the machine setups for contrast imaging and the education provided to clinical users in form of workshops, webinars, textbooks and scientific congresses.

Advancement in ice-jam flood risk management: Integrating dynamic adaptive behavior by an agent-based modeling in Fort McMurry, Canada

Ice-jam flooding is a prevalent extreme event that impacts flood hazard and vulnerability. We introduce a conceptual model framework for Dynamic Ice-jam Flood Risk Assessment (DIFRA). DIFRA integrates ice-jam flood hazard, ice-jam flood risk, and human adaptation. Using agent-based modeling, we captured top-down (artificial breakup) and bottom-up (flood-proofing) adaptive behavior. Our study in Fort McMurray, Canada, shows the complex interaction between micro-level behaviors and macro-level phenomena over time. Our variance-based global sensitivity analysis shows the role of dynamic adaptive behavior in ice-jam flood risk, where the artificial breakage by the government can lead to a regime shift and a decrease in the ice-jam flood risk. However, it can also decrease the number of newly adapted residents to flood-proofing and the role of residents in ice-jam flood risk. DIFRA offers a comprehensive approach to understanding and managing ice-jam flood risk, with potential applications to similar riverine communities in cold regions.

A Dynamic Threat Prevention Framework for Autonomous Vehicle Networks based on Ruin-theoretic Security Risk Assessment

In recent years, Autonomous Vehicle Networks (AVNs) have gained significant attention for their potential to make transportation safer and more efficient. These networks rely on Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication to exchange critical information, such as location, speed, and driving intentions. However, V2V communication also introduces security vulnerabilities that can be exploited to compromise the safety and privacy of drivers and passengers. Malicious or selfish drivers can potentially intercept, modify, and manipulate V2V communication, causing confusion among vehicles or stealing sensitive data. Therefore, in order to identify and mitigate security threats that could jeopardize V2V communication in AVNs, the implementation of a threat prevention framework is imperative. This paper presents a threat prevention framework that assesses security risks dynamically to facilitate secure message forwarding in V2V communication. First, we propose a dynamic risk assessment technique that utilizes the PIER approach to evaluate the level of security threats posed to V2V communication, and ultimately generate a risk score. Second, we develop a security decay assessment method that utilizes ruin theory to continuously monitor security risk within the AVNs. Third, we design a risk-aware message forwarding protocol based on coalitional game theory to facilitate secure V2V communication. Our experiments using the simulator Veins demonstrate the efficiency and scalability of the proposed framework in preventing potential damage caused by common security threats and enhancing the security of the Automated Highway System (AHS).

Zenith Armor : Advancing Security with Zero Trust Measures

In an era of unprecedented digital connectivity and evolving cyber threats, traditional security paradigms have proven insufficient to safeguard sensitive information. This research paper introduces "Zenith Armor," a comprehensive exploration and implementation of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) in the realm of cybersecurity. The paper delves into the core principles of ZTA, emphasizing the imperative shift from implicit trust to continuous verification in securing organizational assets. "Zenith Armor" stands as a testament to the evolving landscape of security frameworks, challenging conventional models by prioritizing identity verification, least privilege access, micro-segmentation, and continuous monitoring. The framework not only mitigates the risks associated with unauthorized access but also addresses the lateral movement of threats within a network, enhancing overall resilience. This paper outlines the essential components of Zenith Armor, emphasizing its dynamic risk assessment capabilities, stringent access control policies, and encryption measures for safeguarding data. Additionally, the framework's applicability to diverse devices, coupled with user education initiatives, creates a robust security ecosystem. The implementation extends beyond traditional network perimeters, incorporating adaptive security measures, and continuous updates. Furthermore, "Zenith Armor" recognizes the significance of a proactive approach to security incidents. A well-defined incident response plan, coupled with vendor and third-party access controls, ensures a swift and effective response to potential breaches. The research paper concludes with a reflection on the transformative potential of "Zenith Armor" in redefining organizational security postures. By embracing the Zero Trust paradigm, organizations can fortify their defenses against an ever-evolving threat landscape, thereby establishing a new zenith in cybersecurity resilience. Keywords—delves ,imperative, micro-segmentation,proactive, zenith.v

[Research progress in emergency assessment of acute poisoning].

Acute poisoning represents a prevalent critical illness jeopardizing patient survival. Early, precise assessment of the condition and subsequent appropriate therapeutic intervention are pivotal in enhancing treatment success rates. Currently, a standardized approach to evaluating the severity of acute poisoning is lacking. Various scoring systems, including Poisoning Severity Score (PSS) , Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) , and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) , offer valuable insights into acute poisoning assessment. Nevertheless, the distinct attributes of each scoring system constrain their broad clinical utility. Confronted with the intricate clinical demands of acute poisoning, the adoption of staged and dynamic assessment strategies is imperative to ascertain the condition of acute poisoning patients with greater accuracy.