Comprehensive Measures Research Articles

Estimating quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) for local authorities in Great Britain and its association with indicators of the inclusive economy: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesQuantifying area-level inequalities in population health can help to inform policy responses. We describe an approach for estimating quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE), a comprehensive health expectancy measure, for local authorities...

Connected Community Classification (C3): Development, Validation, and Geospatial Application for Population Health Promotion and Equity.

Social determinants of health (SDOH) impact population health. Leveraging community-level strengths related to SDOH through a social infrastructure perspective can optimize health behaviors and health outcomes to promote health equity. Our aims were to develop, validate, and apply the Connected Community Classification (C3) as comprehensive community-level measure of protective SDOH and structural factors in the Four Corners states region of the United States. C3 was developed using an iterative principal component analysis of publicly available data mapped to 5 SDOH domains. Regional clustering of C3 by zip code tabulation area (ZCTA) was identified using spatial autocorrelation methods. In adjusted spatial autoregressive models, we analyzed the association of C3 with high-risk health behaviors and chronic disease prevalence using publicly available data for population-level estimates of fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, obesity, smoking, alcohol use, coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, and cancer. C3 was found to be reliable and valid; a C3 value of 10 indicates communities with greater connection (high), while a value of 1 indicates communities with greater separation (low) to social infrastructure. Lower connection, as measured by C3, was significantly inversely associated with lower fruit and vegetable intake, lower physical activity, and higher rates of obesity, smoking, CHD, diabetes, and cancer. C3 was significantly positively associated with heavy alcohol use. These findings demonstrate that communities connected to social infrastructure have better population health outcomes. C3 captures protective community attributes and can be used in future applications to assist health researchers, practitioners, nonprofits, and policymakers to advance social connection and health equity in geographically diverse underserved regions.

Ecological implications of deep pruning: a case report on Persian squirrel nesting in a centennial olive grove on the island of Lesvos, Greece

In recent years, traditional olive groves have undergone a shift towards modern farming practices, raising concerns about their potential impact on local fauna. Despite the documented effects of various agricultural practices on wildlife, there is a notable gap in understanding the implications of pruning practices in traditional olive groves. This study presents a unique observation, the first documented adverse effect of pruning on an olive tree within a traditional grove in Lesvos, Greece, inhabited by Persian squirrels (Sciurus anomalus). Beyond immediate impacts, we conducted comprehensive measurements of both the pruned olive tree and the squirrel’s nest (den), along with an assessment of the entire grove. The findings highlight the need for ecologically informed olive grove management to sustain biodiversity in these historically significant environments.

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Monoclonal Antibodies for Cognitive Decline in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Recent clinical trials of anti-Aβ monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in the treatment of early Alzheimer's disease (AD) have produced encouraging cognitive and clinical results. The purpose of this network meta-analysis (NMA) was to compare and rank mAb drugs according to their efficacy and safety. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials testing various mAbs for the treatment of cognitive decline in patients with AD, up to March 31, 2023. R software (version 4.2.3) along with JAGS and STATA software (version 15.0) were used for statistical analysis. Odds ratio (OR) for binary variables, mean difference (MD) for continuous variables, and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were utilized to estimate treatment effects and rank probabilities for each mAb in terms of safety and efficacy outcomes. We calculated the surface under the cumulative ranking area (SUCRA) to evaluate each mAb, with higher SUCRA values indicating better efficacy or lower likelihood of adverse events. Thirty-three randomized controlled trials with a total of 21,087 patients were included in the current NMA, involving eight different mAbs. SUCRA values showed that aducanumab (87.01% and 99.37%, respectively) was the most likely to achieve the best therapeutic effect based on the changes of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) scores. Donanemab (88.50% and 99.00%, respectively) performed better than other therapies for Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and Positron Emission Tomography-Standardized Uptake Value ratio (PET-SUVr). Lecanemab (87.24%) may be the most promising way to slow down the decrease of Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) score. In the analysis of the incidence of adverse events (subjects with any treatment-emergent adverse event), gantenerumab (89.12%) had the least potential for adverse events, while lecanemab (0.79%) may cause more adverse events. Solanezumab (95.75% and 80.38%, respectively) had the lowest incidence of amyloid-related imaging abnormalities characterized by edema and effusion (ARIA-E) and by cerebral microhemorrhages (ARIA-H) of the included immunotherapies. While SUCRA values provided a comprehensive measure of treatment efficacy, the inherent statistical uncertainty required careful analysis in clinical application. Despite immunotherapies significantly increasing the risks of adverse events and ARIA, the data suggest that mAbs can effectively improve the cognitive function of patients with mild and moderate AD. According to the NMA, aducanumab was the most likely to achieve significant improvements in different cognitive and clinical assessments (statistically improved MMSE and CDR-SB), followed by donanemab (statistically improved ADAS-Cog, and PET-SUVr) and lecanemab (statistically improved ADCS-ADL).

Tramadol Abuse Among Adolescents: Analysis Based on Differential Association Theory in Tasikalaya Regency

Adolescents in Tasikalaya District show a tendency to be susceptible to Tramadol protection, a type of opioid analgesic commonly used to reduce moderate to severe pain. This phenomenon is a resource for the medical community, health practitioners, local governments and other related parties. Serious attention is needed to this problem to prevent negative impacts on the health and welfare of adolescents in the region. Coordinative efforts between the health, education and government sectors need to be strengthened to develop effective prevention and intervention strategies. A deep understanding of the factors driving Tramadol is key in designing appropriate preventive measures. This research examines the use of the drug tramadol among teenagers in Tasikalaya Regency using a qualitative approach and Differential Association Theory. The results of the study showed that adolescents' support for tramadol was caused by social and environmental factors, including interactions with peers and family members who also used the drug. Teenagers often rationalize their behavior and have certain attitudes that influence their decision to take tramadol. Apart from that, the easy availability of tramadol medication and affordable prices also influences teenagers' choices. This study provides a deeper understanding of the problem of tramadol among adolescents and suggests comprehensive preventive measures.

The Role of Digital Media on Students’ Management in Higher Vocational College

This study uses a combination of empirical analysis to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the role of digital media and student management in higher vocational colleges. The results show that the current application status of digital media in student management shows extensive and profound impact. With the rapid development of information technology, digital media has become an important tool for student management in higher vocational colleges, covering many aspects such as course management, attendance management, and student information inquiry, greatly improving management efficiency and convenience. By establishing a digital system, the school has achieved comprehensive coverage of student information management and online education. At the same time, digital media also plays an important role in students' social interaction and has become an indispensable part of students' daily lives. However, digital media applications also bring some problems. Information overload and distraction can make it difficult for students to focus, while security risks threaten student privacy. Solving these problems requires schools to take effective measures, such as improving information literacy and security awareness, and establishing a complete information security system. The impact of digital media on student development is complex and diverse. Its advantage lies in providing a broad learning space and diversified learning methods to promote students' communication and socialization. However, negative effects such as information overload and Internet addiction cannot be ignored. In order to better guide students to use digital media, schools and families need to strengthen digital media literacy education, pay attention to students' mental health, and strengthen network security. In student management, the advantages of digital media are mainly reflected in improving efficiency and interactivity, and promoting management innovation and development. However, the popularization of digital media needs to face issues such as technical and device support, security and privacy protection. By strengthening measures such as construction, training, supervision and management, schools can better leverage the advantages of digital media and improve management efficiency and service quality. Going forward, digital media will play an even more important role in student management. Intelligent management, expanding management fields and promoting student self-management will be the direction of future development. However, the security and popularity of digital media remain challenges that need to be addressed. By strengthening comprehensive measures such as construction, training, supervision and management, schools can better guide the future development of digital media in student management, provide students with more intelligent, personalized and efficient services, and promote their all-round development.

New particle formation induced by anthropogenic–biogenic interactions on the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract. New particle formation (NPF) plays a crucial role in the atmospheric aerosol population and has significant implications on climate dynamics, particularly in climate-sensitive zones such as the Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, our understanding of NPF on the TP is still limited due to a lack of comprehensive measurements and verified model simulations. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted an integrated study combining comprehensive field measurements and chemical transport modeling to investigate NPF events on the southeastern TP during the pre-monsoon season. NPF was observed to occur frequently on clear-sky days on the southeastern TP, contributing significantly to the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) budget in this region. The observational evidence suggests that highly oxygenated organic molecules (HOMs) from monoterpene oxidation participate in the nucleation on the southeastern TP. After updating the monoterpene oxidation chemistry and nucleation schemes in the meteorology–chemistry model, the model well reproduces observed NPF and reveals an extensive occurrence of NPF across the southeastern TP. The dominant nucleation mechanism is the synergistic nucleation of sulfuric acid, ammonia, and HOMs, driven by the transport of anthropogenic precursors from South Asia and the presence of abundant biogenic gases. By investigating the vertical distribution of NPF, we find a significant influence of vertical transport on the southeastern TP. More specifically, strong nucleation near the surface leads to an intense formation of small particles, which are subsequently transported upward. These particles experience enhanced growth to larger sizes in the upper planetary boundary layer (PBL) due to favorable conditions such as lower temperatures and a reduced condensation sink. As the PBL evolves, the particles in larger sizes are brought back to the ground, resulting in a pronounced increase in near-surface particle concentrations. This study highlights the important roles of anthropogenic–biogenic interactions and meteorological dynamics in NPF on the southeastern TP.

Addressing Social Inequality: Analysing the Impact of the Caste Disability Removal Act on Equality and Inclusion in Contemprory Society

This paper looks at the suggestions of the Caste Incapacity Evacuation Act on social balance and incorporation in modern society. By utilizing a multidimensional approach, it examines the authentic setting, lawful system, and societal reaction to the Act. Through subjective investigation, it evaluates the Act's adequacy in tending to caste-based separation and advancing balance. The consider recognizes key challenges and openings for cultivating consideration and highlights the require for comprehensive arrangement measures to combat social disparity.

The role of accounting in mitigating food supply chain risks and food price volatility

The global food supply chain is a complex network of interconnected processes and actors that play a critical role in ensuring food security and stability. However, this intricate system is susceptible to various risks and challenges, including natural disasters, geopolitical tensions, market fluctuations, and regulatory changes. These risks often result in food price volatility, which can have profound implications for both consumers and producers worldwide. In this context, accounting emerges as a vital tool for mitigating risks and managing food price volatility within the supply chain. Accounting serves as a cornerstone in providing accurate, timely, and reliable financial information essential for decision-making at every stage of the food supply chain. Through effective financial reporting and analysis, accounting enables stakeholders to identify, assess, and respond to potential risks proactively. By employing risk management techniques such as scenario planning, sensitivity analysis, and hedging strategies, accounting professionals can help organizations anticipate and mitigate supply chain disruptions, thereby reducing the impact of food price volatility. Furthermore, accounting facilitates transparency and accountability within the food supply chain, enhancing trust and cooperation among stakeholders. Through comprehensive cost accounting and performance measurement systems, organizations can identify inefficiencies, optimize resource allocation, and enhance operational resilience. Moreover, accounting frameworks such as sustainability accounting enable businesses to assess and report the environmental and social impacts of their operations, fostering sustainable practices across the supply chain. In addition to its role in risk management and performance optimization, accounting contributes to regulatory compliance and governance within the food industry. By adhering to accounting standards and regulations, organizations can ensure integrity and accuracy in financial reporting, thereby enhancing investor confidence and mitigating legal and reputational risks. Moreover, accounting professionals play a crucial role in designing and implementing internal control systems to prevent fraud, errors, and misconduct, safeguarding the integrity of the supply chain. Accounting plays a multifaceted role in mitigating food supply chain risks and food price volatility. By providing financial insights, promoting transparency, and ensuring compliance, accounting empowers organizations to navigate challenges and promote stability in the global food system.

Confining N-Doped Carbon Dots into PtNi Aerogels Skeleton for Robust Electrocatalytic Methanol Oxidation and Oxygen Reduction.

Noble metallic aerogels with the self-supported hierarchical structure and remarkable activity are promising for methanol fuel cells, but are limited by the severe poisoning and degradation of active sites during electrocatalysis. Herein, the highly stable electrocatalyst of N-doped carbon dots-PtNi (NCDs-PtNi) aerogels is proposed by confining NCDs with alloyed PtNi for methanol oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions. Comprehensive electrocatalytic measurements and theoretical investigations suggest the improvement in structure stability and regulation in electronic structure for better electrocatalytic durability when confining NCDs with PtNi aerogels. Notably, the NCDs-PtNi aerogels perform 12-fold higher activity than that of Pt/C and maintain 52% of their initial activity after 5000 cycles toward acidic methanol oxidation. The enhanced stability and activity of NCDs-PtNi aerogels are also evident for oxygen reduction reactions in different electrolytes. These results highlight the effectiveness of stabilizing metallic aerogels with NCDs, offering a feasible pathway to develop robust electrocatalysts for fuel cells.

Ensuring Safe Working Conditions under the Influence of Vibroacoustic Factors on Train Crew Workers

Introduction. The increased intensity of noise and vibration of railway traffic may become not only an urgent problem in the field of occupational safety, but also a serious environmental problem in the near future due to the constant need to increase the weight of freight trains, the speed of passenger trains and the capacity of railway lines. Recently, a lot has been done to minimize the negative effects of noise and vibration in railway transport. However, the problem of exceeding the indicators of vibration noise factors remains relevant. Reducing the harmful effects helps to improve the working conditions of train crew employees and improve the comfortable conditions of transport passengers. As a rule, the main focus of the analysis is on the external impact of vibroacoustic factors on residential areas and less attention is paid to the impact on rolling stock. However, these studies do not provide a complete picture of how noise and vibration actually affect the train in motion. The aim of the study was to obtain the result of an analysis of the impact of vibroacoustic factors on train crew workers and to propose a method of comprehensive protection based on the use of vibration damping materials.Materials and Methods. In the course of the work, regulatory documents were studied, a comprehensive analysis of relevant information on this topic was carried out, and methods for calculating vibration and vibration acceleration were used. The values of the sound pressure levels were obtained using a SPM-101 sound level meter. The object of the study was a carriage of the "reserved seat" type in the process of movement. As part of the research plan, sound pressure was measured at selected sites and a class of working conditions was determined.Results. The result of the analysis of the impact of vibroacoustic factors on train crew workers indicated the need to strengthen comprehensive measures to protect them. The obtained calculation of the vibration force became the basis of the method proposed by the authors to minimize the harmful effects of vibroacoustic factors, which was based on the use of vibration and sound insulation materials suitable for the necessary acoustic parameters in the construction of the car. In particular, it was proposed to cover the floor of the car with dense rubber and the ceiling of the car with an inorganic fiber material for sound insulation. The work also provides an economic assessment of the effectiveness of measures to minimize harmful vibration noise effects.Discussion and Conclusion. The proposed methods for minimizing noise and vibration impacts can help reduce the level of sound pressure and vibration indicators to standard values, which will significantly reduce the negative impact of vibroacoustic factors on train crew workers and railway passengers. The considered complex for minimizing vibration and noise includes a set of methods in which affordable materials based on recycled substances have found application.

Intraoperative prevention of nasal mucosal injury and surgical field contamination during single-nostril transnasal endoscopic pituitary adenomas resection.

The common complications of transnasal endoscopic pituitary adenomas resection include nasal hemorrhage, olfactory disorder, nasal adhesion, and intracranial infection. Consequently, the protection of nasal mucosa and the prevention of surgical field contamination are critical. We presented a step-by-step description of the methods of the disinfection and protection of nasal mucosa and the prevention of surgical field contamination during transnasal endoscopic pituitary adenomas resection, and these comprehensive measures to prevent these complications have not been documented. These measures effectively reduce the risk of nasal mucosal injury and surgical field contamination, and are easy to perform.

"Urban Road Accident Scenarios in Dhaka Metropolitan Area "

The dynamic capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, has been confronted with a major challenge in the form of a high volume of traffic accidents, with as many as 1640 incidents recorded in just five years. Nevertheless, this number probably underestimates the actual severity of the issue, suggesting that there is a more urgent problem at hand. The consequences of these accidents reach deep into the city's economic and societal framework, leading to lower productivity, taxing healthcare systems, and causing psychological trauma to communities. The study also highlights the alarming issue of drug addiction among certain Bangladeshi drivers, which increases the frequency of traffic accidents. The Bangladesh Child Rights Forum has brought attention to the significant increase in child mortality resulting from these incidents, highlighting the need for comprehensive measures to protect children's safety when driving. To sum up, the report emphasizes how critical it is for everyone to work together to create a safer Dhaka, one in which the threat of traffic accidents disappears and the city may grow without constant fear.

Racialized feedback and social welfare receipt: disentangling duration and dollar amount mechanisms on policy feedback effects

ABSTRACT This paper examines how the resources associated with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Unemployment Insurance program affect political participation. The research on policy feedback on mass publics has produce greater results relative to research on feedback and political participation. However, prior research has not disaggregated resource feedback effects thoroughly enough to decipher whether the monetary resources provided by a social welfare program are independent of the effects of the duration of receipt nor have they disaggregated the effects by race to estimate the racialized feedback effects. This is crucial because the primary questions surrounding the development of social welfare programs are: who should get it, how much they should get, and how long they should get it for. Research has also found that social welfare programs can produce disparate resource feedback effects, both encouraging and discouraging participatory behavior. To answer these questions, I utilize the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. I incorporate three comprehensive measures of social welfare receipt which allow the estimation of the effects over time. I find that the amount of aid received, and the duration of receipt are both significant factors in shaping participatory behavior but depending on the program I find heterogeneous effects. The disparate effects persist across social welfare programs and race.

Low-cost architecture performance evaluation strategy based on pixel difference degree contrast measurement

The time and effort required to manually design deep neural architectures is extremely high, which has led to the development of neural architecture search technology as an automatic architecture design method. However, the neural architecture search convergence process is slow and expensive, and the process requires training a large number of candidate architectures to get the final result. If the final accuracy of an architecture can be predicted from its initial state, this problem can be greatly alleviated. Therefore, this paper proposes a low-cost architecture performance evaluation strategy based on pixel difference degree contrast measurement, which takes 1) the difference matrix value between the feature map generated in the untrained architecture and the original image, and 2) the predicted accuracy of the neural network as evaluation indices. A new multi-index weight comprehensive measurement strategy was introduced to comprehensively score the multi-index, the real architecture performance can be approximately represented by score, which greatly reduces the cost of architecture evaluation. The experimental show that the proposed scoring strategy is highly correlated with real architecture accuracy. In the practical engineering application research, this strategy can search a high-performance architecture with an accuracy of 96.2% within 343.3 s, which proves that the proposed strategy can significantly improve the search efficiency in practical applications, reduce the subjectivity of artificial architecture design, and promote the application of practical time-consuming projects.

Impact of knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices of nurses on early mobilization of mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU.

Many ICUs worldwide are striving to integrate early mobilization as part of critical care rehabilitation. However, ICU nurses, who are essential contributors to the early mobilization of critically ill patients, still lack comprehensive surveys assessing their knowledge, beliefs, and practices regarding the early mobilization of mechanically ventilated patients. To analyse the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses regarding the early mobilization of mechanically ventilated patients and to explore the effects of these practices. A multicentre cross-sectional study. ICU nurses in five tertiary hospitals in Zhejiang Province, China, were selected by convenience sampling and invited to complete an online questionnaire between 1 June 2021 and 15 June 2021. Sociodemographic data and the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of ICU nurses regarding early mobilization. A total of 296 valid questionnaires were collected, for a response rate of approximately 77.5%. The average scores for knowledge, attitudes, and practices of ICU nurses regarding the early mobilization of mechanically ventilated patients were 42.7 ± 7.4, 34.3 ± 6.5, and 47.1 ± 6.5, respectively, which were good scores. Quantile regressions showed that at the 25% and 50% quartiles, increases in knowledge and attitude scores resulted in increases in practice scores (p < .001); however, at the 75% quartile, increases in knowledge scores did not result in practice score increases (t = 0.000, p = .999); moreover, there was still a 0.5-point increase in practice scores per 1-point increase in attitude scores (t = 0.500, p < .001). The knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported practices of ICU nurses were good, although there is room for improvement. Considering that the influence of attitudes on practice improvement is more important than knowledge, ICU managers should promote knowledge transformation, strengthen attitudes, and adopt comprehensive measures to promote the early mobilization of mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU. To optimize the early mobilization of mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU, introducing multipronged support strategies based on the knowledge and attitudes of ICU nurses is recommended to promote the implementation of such practices.

An early warning model for predicting major adverse kidney events within 30 days in sepsis patients.

In sepsis patients, kidney damage is among the most dangerous complications, with a high mortality rate. In addition, major adverse kidney events within 30 days (MAKE30) served as a comprehensive and unbiased clinical outcome measure for sepsis patients due to the recent shift toward targeting patient-centered renal outcomes in clinical research. However, the underlying predictive model for the prediction of MAKE30 in sepsis patients has not been reported in any study. A cohort of 2,849 sepsis patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database was selected and subsequently allocated into a training set (n = 2,137, 75%) and a validation set (n = 712, 25%) through randomization. In addition, 142 sepsis patients from the Xi'An No. 3 Hospital as an external validation group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to ascertain the independent predictors of MAKE30. Subsequently, a nomogram was developed utilizing these predictors, with an area under curve (AUC) above 0.6. The performance of nomogram was assessed through calibration curve, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA). The secondary outcome was 30-day mortality, persistent renal dysfunction (PRD), and new renal replacement therapy (RRT). MAKE30 were a composite of death, PRD, new RRT. The construction of the nomogram was based on several independent predictors (AUC above 0.6), including age, respiratory rate (RR), PaO2, lactate, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). The predictive model demonstrated satisfactory discrimination for MAKE30, with an AUC of 0.740, 0.753, and 0.821 in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts, respectively. Furthermore, the simple prediction model exhibited superior predictive value compared to the SOFA model in both the training (AUC = 0.710) and validation (AUC = 0.692) cohorts. The nomogram demonstrated satisfactory calibration and clinical utility as evidenced by the calibration curve and DCA. Additionally, the predictive model exhibited excellent accuracy in forecasting 30-day mortality (AUC = 0.737), PRD (AUC = 0.639), and new RRT (AUC = 0.846) within the training dataset. Additionally, the model displayed predictive power for 30-day mortality (AUC = 0.765), PRD (AUC = 0.667), and new RRT (AUC = 0.783) in the validation set. The proposed nomogram holds the potential to estimate the risk of MAKE30 promptly and efficiently in sepsis patients within the initial 24 h of admission, thereby equipping healthcare professionals with valuable insights to facilitate personalized interventions.

Residual stresses of MAG-welded ultrahigh-strength steel rectangular hollow sections

Residual stresses are an important factor in the performance and stability of welded structures. This study investigates the characteristics and significance of residual stresses in MAG-welded ultrahigh-strength steel rectangular hollow sections. The research incorporates comprehensive X-ray diffraction residual stress measurements, electron backscatter diffraction analysis, statistical analyses, and finite element method simulations to provide valuable insights into the behaviour of welding residual stresses. The results reveal clear microstructural variations between the cold-formed corner and the flat side of the rectangular hollow section caused by welding heat input, emphasizing the need to consider these variations in residual stress assessments. Furthermore, the study examines the dependence of residual stresses on the steel grade, with higher strength steel exhibiting compressive stresses and lower strength materials experiencing tensile stresses in corner areas. Statistical analysis indicates that welding sequence and direction have negligible effects when applying the employed welding sequence. In any case, higher heat input leads to significantly larger residual stresses. Finally, the study presents a novel analytical model based on validated finite element simulations to predict the maximum variation of residual stresses depending on welding heat input. The findings provide valuable insights into the significance of welding residual stresses and their predictability. The comprehensive measurements, simulations and proposed models contributes to a better understanding of residual stress phenomena, facilitating the development of reliable design guidelines for welded structures in various engineering applications.

PROVING ANTITRUST DAMAGES IN CIVIL PROCEEDINGS – The Compatibility of Serbian Law with Directive 2014/104 –

Private competition law enforcement has been a recent phenomenon in the European Union. In the past, the EU law and member states’ national laws lacked elements that contributed to the preponderance of private enforcement in the United States, such as treble and punitive damages, the procedural right of a damaged party to request discovery of evidence, collective actions, etc. The interest in private enforcement of competition law has gradually increased after Regulation 1/2003 authorised national courts to implement Articles 101 and 102 TFEU, the EU courts established private enforcement principles, and Directive 2014/104 (Antitrust Damages Directive - ADD) laid down rules to facilitate proving competition law violations and damage resulting from them. The US model evidently inspired the EU legislator. At the same time, ADD attempted to balance the private interests of injured parties and the public interest for effective public enforcement. Specific ADD provisions instigated a public debate concerning their reach and alleged confrontation with general legal principles. Even though member states have taken comprehensive measures to implement ADD, national courts need to search for an equilibrium between private and public interests. Therefore, the full effect of Directive 2014/104 is yet to be seen. Private enforcement of competition law in Serbia is still in its initiation phase. The Serbian Competition Protection Act 2009 proclaimed the right of damaged persons to bring actions for damages, even though this right has already existed under the general rules of civil law. The Competition Protection Act failed to stipulate material conditions and procedural rules that would facilitate private enforcement. The Serbian legislator has not yet taken steps to transpose ADD into national law. This paper first analyses the development and principal features of the US and EU private enforcement models. After that it focuses on the ADD provisions expediting evidence collection and damage assessment. The second part of the paper analyses Serbian tort and civil procedure rules relevant to bringing actions for antitrust damages and case law on antitrust damages. The author concludes with proposals for Serbian legislators to harmonise national law with ADD.

The Comprehension of Grammatical Structures in a Pediatric Population with ASD and Epilepsy: A Comparative Study.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and epilepsy represent a comorbidity that negatively influences the proper development of linguistic competencies, particularly in receptive language, in the pediatric population. This group displays impairments in the auditory comprehension of both simple and complex grammatical structures, significantly limiting their performance in language-related activities, hampering their integration into social contexts, and affecting their quality of life. The main objective of this study was to assess auditory comprehension of grammatical structures in individuals with ASD and epilepsy and compare the results among the three groups. A non-experimental cross-sectional study was designed, including a total of 170 participants aged between 7 and 9 years, divided into three groups: a group with ASD, a group with epilepsy, and a comorbid group with both ASD and epilepsy (ASDEP). The comprehension of grammatical structures was assessed using the CEG and CELF-5 instruments. Statistical analyses included MANOVA and ANOVA to compare scores between groups to verify associations between study variables. The results indicate that the group with ASD and epilepsy performed worse compared to the ASD and epilepsy-only groups, respectively. Additionally, a significant and directly proportional association was observed among all variables within the measures of grammatical structure comprehension. The neurological damage caused by epilepsy in the pediatric population with ASD leads to difficulties in understanding oral language. This level of functioning significantly limits the linguistic performance of these children, negatively impacting their quality of life and the development of core language skills.