Assessment Of Benefits Research Articles

Low-cost gel-polymer electrolytes for smart windows: Effects on yearly energy consumption and visual comfort

The experimental analysis of the main figures of merit of an innovative electrochromic (EC) prototype, based on low cost gel-polymer electrolytes, is at the basis of the numerical simulation exposed hereafter, aiming at the assessment of energy and visual comfort benefits deriving from building integration of smart windows in a multi-storey office building. The effectiveness of the dynamic modulation of glazing properties to improve energy efficiency and users’ comfort was tested comparing the EC windows with a typical law-compliant static commercial glazing system and with a clear windows. To better understand the performances of the proposed EC film, six different locations – ranging from Seville to Helsinki – were selected throughout the European continent to conduct energy and daylighting analyses on three different exposures (east, south, west). The results obtained show reductions of summer cooling and winter heating as well in all the locations considered. Eventually, the effect of electrochromic switching of transmittance on the indoor visual comfort, is considered using a well-established metric: Useful Daylight Illuminance; with regards to daylight analyses, a significant reduction of hours in which excessive illuminance occurs was observed in all the locations considered, confirming that properly controlled EC devices improve both energy efficiency and visual comfort.

Real-time motion-including dose estimation of simulated multi-leaf collimator-tracked magnetic resonance-guided radiotherapy.

Real-time dose estimation is a key-prerequisite to enable online intra-fraction treatment adaptation in magnetic resonance (MR)-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT). It is an essential component for the assessment of the dosimetric benefits and risks of online adaptive treatments, such as multi-leaf collimator (MLC)-tracking. We present a proof-of-concept for a software workflow for real-time dose estimation of MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy based on real-time data-streams of the linac delivery parameters and target positions. A software workflow, combining our in-house motion management software DynaTrack, a real-time dose calculation engine that connects to a research version of the treatment planning software (TPS) Monaco (v.6.09.00, Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden) was developed and evaluated. MR-guided treatment delivery on the Elekta Unity MR-linac was simulated with and without MLC-tracking for three prostate patients, previously treated on the Elekta Unity MR-linac (36.25Gy/five fractions). Three motion scenarios were used: no motion, regular motion, and erratic prostate motion. Accumulated monitor units (MUs), centre of mass target position and MLC-leaf positions, were forwarded from DynaTrack at a rate of 25Hz to a Monte Carlo (MC) based dose calculation engine which utilises the research GPUMCD-library (Elekta AB, Stockholm, Sweden). A rigid isocentre shift derived from the selected motion scenarios was applied to a bulk density-assigned session MR-image. The respective electron density used for treatment planning was accessed through the research Monaco TPS. The software workflow including the online dose reconstruction was validated against offline dose reconstructions. Our investigation showed that MC-based real-time dose calculations that account for all linac states (including MUs, MLC positions and target position) were infeasible, hence states were randomly sampled and used for calculation as follows; Once a new linac state was received, a dose calculation with 106 photons was started. Linac states that arrived during the time of the ongoing calculation were put into a queue. After completion of the ongoing calculation, one new linac state was randomly picked from the queue and assigned the MU accumulated from the previous state until the last sample in the queue. The queue was emptied, and the process repeated throughout treatment simulation. On average 27% (23%-30%) of received samples were used in the real-time calculation, corresponding to a calculation time for one linac state of 148ms. Median gamma pass rate (2%/3mm local) was 100.0% (99.9%-100%) within the PTV volume and 99.1% (90.1%-99.4.0%) with a 15% dose cut off. Differences in PTVDmean , CTVDmean , RectumD2% , and BladderD2% (offline-online, % of prescribed dose) were below 0.64%. Beam-by-beam comparisons showed deviations below 0.07Gy. Repeated simulations resulted in standard deviations below 0.31% and 0.12Gy for the investigated volume and dose criteria respectively. Real-time dose estimation was successfully performed using the developed software workflow for different prostate motion traces with and without MLC-tracking. Negligible dosimetric differences were seen when comparing online and offline reconstructed dose, enabling online intra-fraction treatment decisions based on estimates of the delivered dose.

The economic case for blend fuels: A cost-benefit analysis in the European context

In this paper, it is delved into an in-depth economic evaluation of blend fuels' adoption in Europe, emphasizing both their financial and societal implications. Starting with a technical overview, we detail the ASTM standards governing blend fuels, setting the stage for a robust economic assessment. The cost analysis scrutinizes the financial aspects, from production to distribution, including potential infrastructure adjustments. Conversely, the benefits assessment underscores blend fuels' environmental merits, enhancements in energy security, and the burgeoning economic prospects within this sector. It is aligned our insights with Europe's unique socio-economic backdrop, emphasizing its ambitious renewable energy and emissions reduction objectives. Real-world case studies from diverse European locales offer tangible insights into blend fuel successes. In culmination, our findings present a persuasive economic argument, advocating for blend fuels as a pivotal component in Europe's transition to a greener energy paradigm.

COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage and Factors Influencing Vaccine Hesitancy among Patients with Inborn Errors of Immunity in Latvia: A Mixed-Methods Study.

The European Society for Immunodeficiencies recommends that all patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) without contraindications should receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The aim of this study was to investigate the reasons that discourage IEI patients from receiving the recommended vaccination and to assess vaccination coverage among IEI patients in Latvia. In this multicenter mixed-methods study, the vaccination status of all patients with IEI within two tertiary centers in Latvia was reviewed using electronic health records. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 IEI patients who did not undergo vaccination, and a thematic analysis was performed. A total of 341 patients (49.3% female; median age 19.7 years (IQR:17)) were included in the quantitative part. The proportion of fully vaccinated individuals aged ≥ 12 years was 66.8%-70.9% with patients with selective IgA deficiency and 58.8% with other IEI (χ² = 14.12, p < 0.001). The proportion of fully vaccinated individuals aged 5-11 years was 11.1%. Age was associated with vaccination status: younger patients were found to have a significantly lower likelihood of receiving vaccination (U = 8585, p < 0.001). The five main themes identified were as follows: (1) fear and uncertainty; (2) risk and benefit assessment: COVID-19 vaccine-is it worth it? (3) external influences: the dark horse of the decision-making-people around us; (4) individuals against the system; and (5) beliefs about vaccination and COVID-19. Under-representation of certain IEI groups and recall bias are possible limitations of this study. While most reasons for hesitancy were similar to those previously described in the general population, disease-specific concerns were also identified.

Soil quality and ecological benefits assessment of alpine desertified grassland following different ecological restoration measures.

Soil quality plays an irreplaceable role in plant growth for restored grassland. However, few studies investigate the comprehensive effects considering soil and vegetation properties during the restoration of desertified grassland, which restrict the virtuous circle of restored grassland ecosystem. By setting three restoration patterns of enclosure plus grass (EG), enclosure intercropping shrub-grass (ESG), and enclosure plus sand-barrier and shrub-grass (ESSG) with three different restoration years (≤5, 7-9, and ≥15 years), we selected 28 physicochemical and microbial indicators, and constructed a minimum data set (MDS) to analyze the influences of restoration measurements on soil quality and ecological benefits in alpine desertified grassland. The results showed that the MDS comprised seven soil quality indicators: silt, total nitrogen (TN), carbon-nitrogen ratio (C/N), total potassium (TK), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP), and fungi. Soil quality index (SQI) and ecological restoration effect index (EREI) in restored grasslands significantly increased by 144.83-561.24% and 87.21-422.12%, respectively, compared with unrestored grassland, and their positive effects increased with extending restoration years. The increasing effects of SQI and EREI were the highest in ESSG, followed by EG and ESG. The increasing rate of SQI began to decrease after 5 years in EG and ESG, while it decreased after 7-9 years in ESSG, and that of EREI in EG was lower than ESSG in each restoration year. Our work revealed that ESSG was the optimum restoration pattern for desertified grassland, and anthropogenic monitoring and management measurements such as applying organic fertilization and mowing return reasonably should be carried out at the beginning of 5 years in EG and ESG as well as 7 years in ESSG to maintain sustainable ecological benefits. The study highlights that soil quality, including microbial properties, is a key factor to evaluate the restoration effects of desertified grassland.

Comparison of biologics and small-molecule drugs in axial spondyloarthritis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background: Biologics and small-molecule drugs have become increasingly accepted worldwide in the treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), including ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). However, a quantitative multiple comparison of their efficacy and safety is lacking. This study aims to provide an integrated assessment of the relative benefits and safety profiles of these drugs in axSpA treatment.Methods: We included randomized clinical trials that compared biologics and small-molecule drugs in the treatment of axSpA patients. The primary outcomes assessed were efficacy, including the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) improvement of 20% (ASAS20) and 40% (ASAS40). Safety outcomes included treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). We used the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA) curve value and ranking plot to evaluate and rank clinical outcomes and safety profiles of different treatments. The two-dimensional graphs were illustrated to visually assess both the efficacy (horizontal axis) and safety (vertical axis) of each intervention.Results: Our analysis included 57 randomized clinical trials involving a total of 11,787 axSpA patients. We found that seven drugs (TNFRFc, TNFmAb, IL17Ai, IL17A/Fi, IL17RAi, JAK1/3i, and JAK1i) were significantly more effective in achieving ASAS20 response compared to the placebo (PLA). Except for IL17RAi, these drugs were also associated with higher ASAS40 responses. TNFmAb demonstrated the highest clinical response efficacy among all the drugs. Subgroup analyses for AS and nr-axSpA patients yielded similar results. IL17A/Fi emerged as a promising choice, effectively balancing efficacy and safety, as indicated by its position in the upper right corner of the two-dimensional graphs.Conclusion: Our findings highlight TNFmAb as the most effective biologic across all evaluated efficacy outcomes in this network meta-analysis. Meanwhile, IL17A/Fi stands out for its lower risk and superior performance in achieving a balance between efficacy and safety in the treatment of axSpA patients.

Cost-benefit assessment of health benefits of local climate action: scoping review

Abstract Background Local climate strategies are often linked to current priorities for transport, housing and planning but the health benefits of these strategies are often neglected in decision making. Economic information on the health benefits of climate action, including return on investment (RoI), would help support adaptation in Local Government. Aim To review methods for economic evaluation of the health benefits of local climate action (adaptation and mitigation) in high income countries. Methods We undertook a scoping review of full economic assessments that considered the health impacts of local climate action. We first reviewed climate actions and strategy documents to identify climate policies, practices and measures. We searched four electronic databases (Global Health, Web of Science, ECONLIT, and MEDLINE via OVID) for studies published from 2000 to 2022. Results 26 studies were identified. The economic assessments covered a range of interventions, mostly for mitigation objectives: active travel (n = 10); housing (n = 6), green infrastructure (n = 4), heatwave warning systems (n = 3), transport (n = 1), and food waste (n = 1). A limited range of economic methods were used, with most using benefit-cost ratios (BCR) as a measure of cost effectiveness (n = 14). The range of health outcomes that were monetised was even more limited, either benefits from reduction in indoor or ambient heat and/or air pollutants (PM) on mortality or increased physical activity. Conclusions Currently there is limited economic evidence to support decision-making for local climate action that takes health into consideration. Climate actions may also incorporate nature-based solutions but these have specific challenges for evaluation and valuation. There is a need to develop standard methods to allow decision makers to evaluate the most appropriate strategies.

Manure substitution with appropriate N rate enhanced the soil quality, crop productivity and net ecosystem economic benefit: A sustainable rainfed wheat practice

Partial substitution of organic fertilizer is adopted to increase production and alleviate farmland greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, there is a lack of integrated assessment of soil quality, crop productivity, and environmental benefits through organic fertilizer substitution. Therefore, an in-situ experiment was conducted with the single nitrogen (N) treatments (120, 180, 240 kg N ha−1, expressed with N120, N180, N240, respectively) and partial substitution with manure fertilizer (each N treatment decreased by 30 kg N ha−1 and plus 2 t ha−1 pig manure, expressed with NM120, NM180, NM240, respectively) for rainfed wheat production on the Loess Plateau. A comparison between N and NM treatments showed that manure substitution treatments: 1) increased soil quality index by 50.9 − 57.4%, grain yield by 9.0 − 42.9%, total N accumulation by 8.6 − 31.1% and nitrogen recovery efficiency by 10.7 − 76.9%; 2) decreased N2O emission by 10.6 − 15.3% and CH4 uptake by 2.9 − 3.6%, whereas increased CO2 emission by 5.1 − 6.7%; 3) reduced the carbon footprint by 1.7 − 2.3 time mainly by the soil organic carbon sequestration. The global warming potential (GWP), Greenhouse gas emission intensity (GHGI), grain yield and net ecosystem economic benefit (NEEB) increased as the fertilizer rates increasing. NM180 had higher yield (average 6022 kg ha−1) and lower GWP (16489 kg CO2-eq ha−1) than N180, which obtained the smaller GHGI (2.67 kg CO2-eq kg−1) and maximum NEEB (4150 RMB ha−1). Overall, manure partial substitution with appropriate N rate enhances soil quality, crop productivity and environment benefit, which is a sustainable rainfed wheat practice.

The nonlinear relationship between air quality and housing prices by machine learning.

Using a dataset encompassing 228 cities in China spanning from 2005 to 2019, this study explores the nonlinear relationship between air quality and housing prices and devises a strategy that incorporates the instrumental variable and machine learning to address the endogeneity issue. Both traditional models and machine learning models find air pollution affects housing prices in a diminishing manner. The negative impact of air pollution on housing prices decreases when the degree of air pollution intensifies. Such a characteristic is more pronounced in Eastern China and cities with fewer land resource constraints and larger populations. Mechanism analysis also reveals that air pollution could affect residents' perceived air quality and the industrial structure, further contributing to the nonlinear relationship between air quality and housing prices. The further SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) evaluates the importance of air quality in determining housing prices and finds that air quality's contribution outweighs educational and medical resources. The contribution of air quality also shows a distinct regional disparity and has become increasingly important in recent years. The findings refine the benefit assessment accuracy related to air quality improvement.

Combining MUSHRA Test and Fuzzy Logic in the Evaluation of Benefits of Using Hearing Prostheses

Assessing the effectiveness of hearing aid fittings based on the benefits they provide is crucial but intricate. While objective metrics of hearing aids like gain, frequency response, and distortion are measurable, they do not directly indicate user benefits. Hearing aid performance assessment encompasses various aspects, such as compensating for hearing loss and user satisfaction. The authors suggest enhancing the widely used APHAB (Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit) questionnaire by integrating it with the MUSHRA test. APHAB, a self-completed questionnaire for users, evaluates specific sound scenarios on a seven-point scale, with each point described by a letter, percentage, and description. Given the complexities, especially for older users, we propose converting the seven-point APHAB scale to a clearer 100-point MUSHRA scale using fuzzy logic rules. The paper starts with presenting the goals of the study, focused on the assessment of the benefits of hearing aid use, especially in the case of the elderly population. The introductory part includes an overview of methods for evaluating the effectiveness of hearing aid use. Then, the methodology for the data collection is presented. This is followed by a method modification that combines the MUSHRA (MUltiple Stimuli with Hidden Reference and Anchor) test and fuzzy logic processing and the commonly used hearing aid benefit assessment questionnaire, APHAB (Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit). The results of such a process are examined. A summary of the findings is given in the form of fuzzy logic-based rules, followed by a short discussion. Finally, the overall conclusion and possible future directions for the method development are presented.

A Review on Sustainability Improvements in 3D Printing Materials

Background: As the ecological environment deteriorates, manufacturing and construction, as major industries that consume energy and cause environmental degradation, urgently need a new technology that is more efficient and sustainable. 3D printing has become a suitable choice for the manufacturing and construction industries to solve sustainability problems and environmental pollution problems due to its lower material consumption and no need for templates. Objective: Through the analysis of the research status of sustainable improvement of 3D printing materials, scattered research is reviewed, valuable conclusions are extracted from representative studies, and future research directions are predicted. Methods: Researches on sustainable improvement of 3D printing materials are compared and summarized, sustainable materials that can be used to replace existing materials are described, and the performance changes of samples after material improvement are summarized. Results: By tracking the impact of the substitution of various sustainable materials on the sample, the main problems in the current study are analyzed, including the degradation of sample performance and increased cost. On the premise of solving the above problems, the sustainable improvement of 3D printing materials in the future is prospected. Conclusion: Improving the sustainability of 3D printing materials can help improve the environmental benefits of 3D printing. Therefore, this article has compared and summarized previous studies, described the available sustainable materials, and summarized the impact of various types of material substitution on samples. Considering the shortcomings of existing research, a more comprehensive evaluation of sample performance, specific quantitative assessment of environmental benefits, and expansion of indicators for evaluating environmental benefits are the key research directions in the future.

Immunomodulatory effects of fucoidan in recreationally active adult males undertaking 3-weeks of intensified training

ABSTRACT The aim of the current study was to determine whether daily fucoidan supplementation (Undaria pinnatifida extract containing >85% fucoidan, 1 g/day) for three-weeks in a double blind-placebo controlled cross-over trial (ACTRN12621000872831) could modulate alterations in faecal (calprotectin, lysozyme and IgA) and salivary (lactoferrin, lysozyme and IgA) markers of mucosal immune competence typically observed in response to both acute physical activity, and a period of intensified exercise training, in healthy recreationally active men (n = 12). Participants responded positively to the intensified training with 16–19% improvement in mean power that was not different between supplement groups. Faecal biomarkers and concentrations of lactoferrin, lysozyme and IgA from resting saliva samples were largely stable over the supplementation period. Concentrations of salivary biomarkers varied significantly over time in response to acute exercise, however differences between supplementation groups were modest. For salivary lysozyme, there was a trend for a lower magnitude of increase post-exercise (p = 0.08) and limited return towards pre-exercise in response to fucoidan. For salivary IgA, a greater acute exercise response was noted for IgA in response to fucoidan (~2.7-fold higher; p = 0.02). Different dosage and supplementation protocols and inclusion of additional immune markers should be considered in subsequent assessments of any potential benefits of fucoidan supplementation in healthy active adults.

Energy performance of school roofing materials in hot and humid climates

Effective roof insulation plays a pivotal role in reducing the energy used for air-conditioning, particularly in Taiwan’s extreme summer climate. In the present study, 1108 cases of rooftop insulation renovations in Taiwanese schools between 2018 and 2022 were investigated, and the thermal insulation performance and air-conditioning-related electricity savings associated with these renovations were analyzed through a cost–benefit assessment of the investment in insulation. The EnergyPlus software was used to model typical classroom roofs in seven climate zones in Taiwan. All the adopted thermal insulation methods considerably reduce air-conditioning-related electricity use; however, diminishing returns occur faster for thicker thermal insulation. The four main roof insulation materials used in the analyzed cases are galvanized corrugated steel, foam concrete, polystyrene sheets, and insulating bricks, which are associated with average maximum electricity-saving ratios of 17%, 15.3%, 10.2%, and 9.7%, respectively, and payback periods of 6.1, 6.4, 4.5, and 9.3 years, respectively. Electricity savings are greater and the payback period is shorter for the hotter southern zones of Taiwan than for the cooler northern zones. Galvanized corrugated steel has average energy efficiency of 21% and 13% in the southern and northern zones, respectively. The selection of roof construction materials strongly influences the consumption of energy for air-conditioning. Moreover, different construction costs result in distinct payback periods. The results of this study serve as a reference for school administrators and governments in the selection of insulation methods and design of building energy conservation and management, respectively.

The economic evaluation of a vaccination against pertussis infection in children in Moscow

Actuality. Previously, we calculated the economic consequences of the booster vaccination against pertussis infection (CI) with the tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine, combined, adsorbed (INN) in some regions of the Russian Federation, which showed that the public benefit within 7 years after immunization could potentially exceed the cost of vaccination 1.23 times. At the same time, it is important to provide an economic justification for vaccination for a megalopolis, such as Moscow, with an underestimation of the diagnosis of the disease in conditions of high population density, contributing to the spread of infection. Materials and methods. The assessment of the economic benefits of obtaining an epidemiological gain during revaccination was carried out within the framework of a market economy using an assessment of the cost of the disease. The calculations were based on data on the cost of CI treatment in Moscow, considering cases of complicated and mild course and on the basis of current tariffs of the OMI system. Modeling was performed based on morbidity rates, taking into account the underestimation of detectability in a cohort of 14-year-olds numbering 100 thousand people. Two scenarios were compared, providing for the preservation of the existing procedure of revaccination only at 6 years (95% coverage) and the scenario in which the second revaccination of all adolescents was carried out at 14 years. Using the model, epidemiological indicators of changes in the incidence of CI were determined, and direct and indirect costs were calculated on their basis. When testing the sensitivity of the model, other levels of vaccination of 14-year-old children were also used in the calculations. Results. Booster revaccination of a conditional cohort of 100,000 children aged 14 years with the mentioned vaccine will reduce the incidence of pertussis during the period of saving immune protection (7 years) by 53.7% (from 1702.5 to 788.4 cases per 100 thousand of the population of these ages). This epidemiological gain will be accompanied by an economic benefit calculated in the metric of the total cost of prevented cases of the disease, which will amount to 155.4 million rubles. For a cohort of 100 thousand revaccinated adolescents of 14 years. The economic benefits accompanying a potential reduction in the incidence of infants can range from 254.4 to 470.5 million rubles, depending on the nature and intensity of contacts between adolescents and younger children. Conclusion. With the given parameters of underestimating the diagnosis and cost of the vaccine in the population over 14 years of age in Moscow, revaccination of adolescents is an economically justified measure.

Green Building Consumption Perception and Its Impact on Fitness Service Purchasing Intentions: An Extended Institutional Analysis and Development Decision-Making Model Analysis

Green buildings play a pivotal role in advancing ecological civilization and promoting green, low-carbon development. Numerous studies have delved into the construction techniques, process attributes, economic benefits, risk management, and benefit assessments associated with green buildings. Concurrently, research on the profitability models, marketing strategies, and public purchasing intentions of commercial fitness clubs has also yielded extensive findings. Yet, there is a noticeable gap: limited research has investigated the nexus between green building development and consumers’ propensity to purchase fitness services from these commercial establishments. Building upon the foundation set by previous scholars and employing the Extended IAD Decision-Making Model, this study utilizes the PLS-SEM method to analyze collected questionnaire data. Through path analysis, we examine the relationships between variables. Our findings indicate that: (1) Positive perceptions of green building consumption bolster the purchasing intentions toward fitness services in commercial fitness clubs. (2) Perceived risk mediates the relationship between green building consumption perceptions and consumers’ fitness service purchasing intentions in commercial fitness clubs. (3) Environmental awareness enhances the correlation between green building consumption perceptions and the propensity to purchase services in these clubs. The goal of this research is to underscore the importance of green buildings both in environmental and economic contexts and to offer insights that can elevate the profitability of commercial fitness clubs.

Neural envelope tracking predicts speech intelligibility and hearing aid benefit in children with hearing loss

Early assessment of hearing aid benefit is crucial, as the extent to which hearing aids provide audible speech information predicts speech and language outcomes. A growing body of research has proposed neural envelope tracking as an objective measure of speech intelligibility, particularly for individuals unable to provide reliable behavioral feedback. However, its potential for evaluating speech intelligibility and hearing aid benefit in children with hearing loss remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated neural envelope tracking in children with permanent hearing loss through two separate experiments. EEG data were recorded while children listened to age-appropriate stories (Experiment 1) or an animated movie (Experiment 2) under aided and unaided conditions (using personal hearing aids) at multiple stimulus intensities. Neural envelope tracking was evaluated using a linear decoder reconstructing the speech envelope from the EEG in the delta band (0.5-4 Hz). Additionally, we calculated temporal response functions (TRFs) to investigate the spatio-temporal dynamics of the response. In both experiments, neural tracking increased with increasing stimulus intensity, but only in the unaided condition. In the aided condition, neural tracking remained stable across a wide range of intensities, as long as speech intelligibility was maintained. Similarly, TRF amplitudes increased with increasing stimulus intensity in the unaided condition, while in the aided condition significant differences were found in TRF latency rather than TRF amplitude. This suggests that decreasing stimulus intensity does not necessarily impact neural tracking. Furthermore, the use of personal hearing aids significantly enhanced neural envelope tracking, particularly in challenging speech conditions that would be inaudible when unaided. Finally, we found a strong correlation between neural envelope tracking and behaviorally measured speech intelligibility for both narrated stories (Experiment 1) and movie stimuli (Experiment 2). Altogether, these findings indicate that neural envelope tracking could be a valuable tool for predicting speech intelligibility benefits derived from personal hearing aids in hearing-impaired children. Incorporating narrated stories or engaging movies expands the accessibility of these methods even in clinical settings, offering new avenues for using objective speech measures to guide pediatric audiology decision-making.

1938P Assessment of clinical benefit of cancer drugs recommended in National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and bone sarcomas (BS)

1938P Assessment of clinical benefit of cancer drugs recommended in National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and bone sarcomas (BS)

Framing, moral foundations and health taxes: interpretive analysis of Ethiopia’s tobacco excise tax policy passage

BackgroundIn 2019–2020, the Ethiopian government ratified a suite of legislative measures that includes levying a tax on tobacco products. This study aims to examine stakeholders’ involvement, position, power and perception...

Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Wuxikou Integrated Flood Management Project Considering the Effects of Flood Risk Reduction and Resettlement

AbstractEvaluation of the economic costs and benefits of flood disaster risk management projects is crucial. However, current cost-benefit analyses (CBA) often lack reliable estimates of the expected loss reduction from flood control measures and ignore quantitative assessments of resettlement. To address these limitations, this study incorporated a probabilistic risk analysis method and quantitative resettlement benefits assessment into the CBA framework, using the Wuxikou Integrated Flood Management Project (WIFMP) in Jiangxi Province, China, as a case study. The direct economic benefits of flood control were estimated by integrating hydrological statistics, numerical flood inundation simulation, and quantitative damage analysis with exposure and vulnerability data. Furthermore, the resettlement benefits were quantified by measuring the annual income growth of migrants based on assumptions about household employment. Our analysis shows that the total WIFMP investment is RMB 3546.1 million yuan (USD 1 = RMB 6.976 yuan), including loan principal and interest of 244.4 million yuan, and operations and maintenance of 605.5 million yuan at 2020 prices. Annual project benefits are estimated at 351.3 million yuan in flood risk reduction, 155.7–191.9 million yuan from increased resettlement income, and 42.7 million yuan in power and water revenues. Considering the costs and benefits across the entire project lifecycle, the internal rate of return ranges from 13.7 to 14.2%, and the net present value ranges from 31.8 to 352.6 billion yuan. Through improved benefit estimation methodology, this research enables a more reliable and holistic evaluation of costs and benefits for flood risk management projects. It provides insights for policymakers and practitioners involved in similar projects, contributing to more informed decision making and better allocation of resources in flood disaster risk management.

A dataset of carbon and water fluxes observed in Xishuangbanna tropical seasonal rain forest from 2011 to 2015

The proposal for China's dual-carbon target is based on the foundation of addressing climate change. It is imperative to enhance carbon sinks and reduce carbon sources to implement climate governance. The terrestrial ecosystem is an important atmospheric carbon sink, while the tropical seasonal rain forest, as a component of the terrestrial ecosystem in China characterized by rich biomass, and strong productivity, plays an essential role in carbon sequestration. As one of the basic observation and research stations of China Flux Research Network (ChinaFLUX), the Xishuangbanna Tropical Seasonal Rainforest Ecological Station built in 2002 has accumulated 20 years of carbon and water flux observation data. Based on the ChinaFLUX data processing system, this dataset processes and collates the tropical seasonal rain forest flux and conventional meteorological data of Xishuangbanna from January 2011 to December 2015. The result is a collection of data products at half-hourly, daily, monthly, and yearly intervals. This dataset can be applied to research fields such as the analysis of the carbon cycle response mechanism of ecosystems and the assessment of carbon sequestration benefits under climate change, and it can also serve as a valuable reference for the optimization of ecosystem model parameters and the verification of results. Through multi-platform architecture, multi-scale integration, and multi-method coupling, the dataset is expected to further provide basic support for analyzing the mechanisms of regional and even global carbon-water-heat cycles in ecosystems, spatiotemporal dynamics and predicting future carbon sink potential, thus providing the scientific basis for achieving China's carbon neutrality goal.