Robust Indicator Research Articles

Almost sure asymptotic stability of parabolic SPDEs with small multiplicative noise: with application to the perturbed Moore-Greitzer model

In this paper, we investigate the almost-sure exponential asymptotic stability of the trivial solution of a parabolic stochastic partial differential equation (SPDE) driven by multiplicative noise near the deterministic Hopf bifurcation point. We show the existence and uniqueness of the invariant measure under appropriate assumptions, and approximate the exponential growth rate via asymptotic expansion, given that the strength of the noise is small. This approximate quantity can readily serve as a robust indicator of the change of almost-sure stability. We apply the results to a simplified stochastic Moore-Greitzer PDE model in detecting the stall instabilities of modern jet-engine under the impact of multiplicative noise. A better understanding of the instability margin will eventually optimize the jet-engine operating range and thus lead to lighter and more efficient jet-engine design.

Robust competency-based evaluation matrix for directive PMO services in construction projects

The interest in using project management office (PMO) services in organizations to manage their construction projects is growing in light of rising economic, technological, and social developments based on their ability to achieve organizational goals while avoiding risks. Accordingly, organizations use PMO services to manage their technical and financial project issues to periodically evaluate PMO performance and services in a scientific, practical, and measurable way to ensure successful project path via PMO. Therefore, this research aims to develop a performance evaluation system that enables organizations to follow up and evaluate the PMO performance to ensure that PMO manages the organizations’ expectations and goals successfully according to certain quality, scope, and cost. The study builds on significant findings in PMO competence indexes as evaluation matrix, which includes five basic categories with 136 indexes covering the project life cycle. The matrix was developed based on literature analysis and supplemented with experts’ interviews in construction management. The developed robust competency-based index (RCI) for directive PMO supports the organizations to conduct client satisfaction, correction, or partial/total change of the PMO’s competence flow within five construction project life cycle and process, i.e. governance, portfolio, information, execution, and contract issues.

Risk−Based Cost−Benefit Optimization Design for Steel Frame Structures to Resist Progressive Collapse

The design of structures to resist progressive collapse primarily focuses on enhancing structural safety and robustness. However, given the low probability of accidental events, such designs often lead to a negative cost–benefit. To address this problem, this paper uses risk analysis to optimize the progressive collapse resistance design of steel frame structures. The elements’ cross-section design for the progressive collapse resistance of steel frame structures is optimized using genetic algorithms and SAP2000 23, which identify the structural model with the minimum robustness index while ensuring safety. The results show that the risk-based robustness index can effectively assess the cost of progressive collapse design. More importantly, the optimization model can rapidly identify the most cost-effective structural design solution that complies with progressive collapse resistance guidelines, enhancing the simplicity and usability of the structure design optimization process. Additionally, the integration of the SAP2000 API with Python 3.8 automation streamlines the parameterization process, minimizes manual errors, and enhances the precision and efficiency of the structural design optimization. Finally, the model’s effectiveness is validated through a case study, where the refined single-frame structure shows a reduction in initial construction and collapse-related costs by 2.4% and 9.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, the three-dimensional frame shows a 2.9% rise in initial costs but a 13.5% decrease in total collapse-resistant design costs, illustrating the model’s ability to balance safety with cost-effectiveness.

Age at onset as an index of genetic heterogeneity in major psychiatric and substance use disorders.

Robust clinical indices of etiologic heterogeneity for psychiatric disorders are rare. We investigate whether age at onset (AAO) reflects genetic heterogeneity, utilizing Genetic Risk Ratios (GRR) derived from Family Genetic Risk Scores (FGRS). We examined, in individuals born in Sweden 1940-2003, whether AAO for five primary disorders -- drug use disorder (DUD), alcohol use disorder (AUD), major depression (MD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SZ)-- was associated with varying levels of GRRs with a range of informative secondary disorders and traits. Our disorders displayed a varying pattern of change of GRRs with increasing AAO. At one end was SZ, where all GRRs rose with increasing AAO meaning that SZ became increasing genetically heterogeneous with later AAO. The most balanced disorder was AUD where, with increasing AAO, GRRs rose for AD, BD, and MD and declined for DUD, CB, and ADHD. That is, at young AAO, AUD had high levels of genetic risk for other externalizing disorders while at older AAO, high genetic risk for internalizing disorders were more prominent. MD was at the continuum's other end where all GRRs, except for AD, decreased with higher AAO, meaning that MD became increasingly genetically homogeneous with later AAO. Genetic heterogeneity was robustly associated with AAO across our five primary disorders with substantial inter-disorder differences in the observed patterns. In particular, young AAO was associated with maximal genetic homogeneity for SZ and DUD while older AAO had greater genetic homogeneity for MD with AUD falling in between.

Intelligent characterization and robustness quantification of frozen soil strength images using a multi-module fusion strategy

In frozen wall engineering, traditional detection methods are difficult to implement for real-time monitoring of strength parameters, due to their intermittent nature. This makes it difficult to provide timely warnings and effective responses to potential risks of frozen walls, highlighting the urgent need for a method that can continuously and accurately monitor the strength of frozen walls. An image data-driven intelligent identification method for frozen soil strength based on convolutional neural networks is proposed. By capturing images of cured samples from multiple angles and conducting uniaxial compressive strength tests, the collected strength data were divided into 12 categories, creating an image dataset for deep learning model training. A Resnet-34 deep learning model combined with global attention and downsampling showed excellent performance in comparison with a series of basic models, with an accuracy of 93.3 % and no overfitting. The accuracy of the deep learning model was assessed using adversarial attack and defense strategies, serving as an indicator of robustness. The improved model exhibited better robustness in comparative analyses. Using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) value analysis, the feature extraction process of the convolutional neural network in recognizing frozen soil strength was investigated and clarified, confirming the model's ability to identify and extract key features in frozen soil images, such as particle size, texture, cracks, and ice crystal distribution patterns. This technology offers a cutting-edge method for real-time tracking of frozen wall conditions and early disaster warnings, significantly enhancing the safety and success rate of construction projects under freezing conditions.

Olivine Ni isotopes of Ni-Cu deposits in NW China: A potential sulfide segregation indicator in basaltic magmatic systems

Sulfide segregation from silicate magmas is essential in forming magmatic sulfide deposits, but a robust Ni-isotopic indicator has been lacking. This study investigates the Ni isotopic compositions of olivine and coexisting sulfide from three magmatic Ni-Cu deposits in East Tianshan, NW China, to reveal the behavior of Ni isotopes during magmatic differentiation and sulfide segregation processes. The δ60/58Ni values in olivine separates (+0.15 to +0.68 ‰, median 0.40 ‰) are notably higher than typical mantle and basalt values (+0.11 to +0.23 ‰). Decreased Ni at the rim of Fe-Mg unzoned olivine indicates certain degrees of post-crystallization Fe-Ni diffusion between sulfide and olivine. The intragrain diffusion modeling results show that the δ60/58Ni values in olivine can change up to 0.5 ‰ to 1 ‰ when the diffusional modification of Ni extends to the core. However, the observed thin Ni gradient at the rim and relatively flat Ni profiles in the cores of the olivine samples suggest limited kinetic modifications. Moreover, the δ60/58Ni values negatively correlate with the Ni content and Ni/Co ratio in olivine. The sulfide separates are isotopically lighter than the coexisting olivine grain, with δ60/58Niolivine – δ60/58Nisulfide values ranging from +0.10 to +0.40 ‰ (median +0.22 ‰). Given minimal Ni isotope fractionation between olivine and silicate melt, the observed Ni isotopic differences between olivine and sulfides are attributed to Ni isotope fractionation between silicate melt and sulfide melt at magmatic temperatures, efficiently incorporating isotopically light Ni into the sulfide melt. The sulfide segregation-driven Ni isotope fractionation aligns with the distinct Ni isotopic compositions observed in olivine grains from two highly differentiated mafic units of the Huangshandong deposit with different sulfide evolution histories. Olivine grains from mineralized gabbronorite have higher δ60/58Ni values (+0.68 ‰, Phase III) than those from sulfide-barren olivine gabbro (δ60/58Ni = +0.23 ‰, Phase I). Systematic stratigraphic Ni isotope variations in the Huangshanxi olivine from intervals with varying degrees of sulfide segregation and magma replenishment further support this interpretation. These findings demonstrate that Ni isotopes in olivine are reliable for tracing sulfide segregation, provided that diffusional modification is carefully assessed. With limited diffusional modification, the widespread isotopically heavy Ni signature in olivine (δ60/58Ni > 0.3 ‰) serves as a valuable indicator for sulfide segregation and exploring magmaticNi-Cu deposits.

Application of selenium isotopes to define selenium bioreduction in coal waste rock: Elk Valley, British Columbia

Anthropogenic sources of selenium (Se), including coal mining, can release Se to the environment and raise Se concentrations in receiving waters above drinking water and aquatic limits. Selenium bioreduction can be an important control to reduce dissolved selenate concentrations. This extensive study investigated the application of Se stable isotope ratios (δ82Se) of dissolved selenate to identify Se bioreduction in saturated and unsaturated mine rock piles (MRPs) located in the Elk Valley, Canada. The study included in situ and laboratory column experiments, where methanol was added to promote bioreduction. Results showed that selenate concentrations often are not reliable indicators of bioreduction. However, elevation of δ82Se relative to the selenate sources in all environments provided a robust indicator of widespread selenate bioreduction. Native microbes were shown to use both methanol and natural carbon sources as an electron donor for selenate bioreduction. Variability in the magnitude of apparent isotopic fractionation in column experiments was attributed to physical and microbiological heterogeneity, while variability in apparent isotopic fractionation from in situ experiments was attributed to the entrainment of small masses of background selenate into the experiment. Due to the uncertainty in apparent epsilon values, the extent of bioreduction can only be estimated with limited confidence. Despite uncertainties, however, the application of δ82Se is valuable in guiding the management of Se in mine environments.

Causal association between epigenetic age acceleration and two pulmonary vascular diseases: pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary embolism—a bidirectional Mendelian study

BackgroundPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a relatively rare but severe disease with a poor prognosis. Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious condition that can cause sudden death. Epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) is a robust indicator derived from the DNA methylation-based epigenetic clock, which can predict the extent of aging. It has been proved that the epigenetic clock and EAA are associated with many cardiovascular diseases, while their associations with PAH and PE remain inconclusive. Our study aims to investigate the associations among these factors.MethodBy harnessing summary-level data from large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we designed a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the causal associations between measures of three epigenetic clocks, including GrimAge acceleration (n = 34,467), Hannum Age acceleration (n = 34,449) and PhenoAge acceleration (n = 34,463) and PAH (including 125 cases and 162,837 controls), as well as PE (including 3940 cases and 480,658 controls). The inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary method for MR analysis. Other methods, such as MR egger and weighted mode, served as complements to the IVW approach, were also applied in the analyses. Then, the MR pleiotropy test and MR-PRESSO test, which are effective tools for quality control of MR analysis, were subsequently used to ensure the accuracy of the study.ResultsThe forward MR analysis indicated that all three epigenetic clocks had no significant effects on PAH or PE. The reverse analysis indicated that the onset and progression of PAH and PE had insignificant effects on three epigenetic clocks. The results of the quality control assessment confirmed that our findings were reliable.ConclusionOur two-sample bidirectional MR analysis suggested that there is no significant association between epigenetic clocks and these two pulmonary vascular diseases.

Tracing the origin of wood at the regional scale with dendrochemical markers: elemental and strontium and neodymium isotopic composition

The dendrochemical approach holds significant promise for determining the geographical origin of wood as a complementary tool to dendroprovenancing based on tree-ring width. Tracing the origin of wood based on its elemental and isotopic composition is in particular interesting for provenance studies at the regional scale, as dendrochemical signatures are indicative of geological and pedological characteristics. Although, absorption of nutrients and trace elements reflects the composition of soil bioavailable pools, it is also modulated by multiple environmental and tree related factors. We assess the dendrochemical approach in oak wood provenance studies regarding the challenges posed by 1) geochemical variation at a local level, and 2) dendrochemical variation related to oak species, age and social status. A combination of 13 elemental concentrations and 2 isotope – Sr and Nd – ratios was analyzed in oak wood from 12 forests situated in the large Seine river catchment in France. The sampling targeted sites with representative types of geological parent material, where adult trees of two common temperate Quercus species (Quercus petraea and Quercus robur) were selected. The impact of tree characteristics was markedly weaker than that of the site factor and the minimal differences in dendrochemical composition between Quercus petraea and Quercus robur were considered without effect on determination of the geographical origin. Linear discriminant analysis based on Ca-normalized elemental concentrations and Sr and Nd isotope ratios correctly classified the origin of 93 % of the sampled trees. Strontium isotope ratio 87Sr/86Sr was the strongest provenance indicator capable of determining the origin of 55 % of wood samples on its own. Our system based on elemental and strontium and neodymium isotopic compositions provides robust indicators for wood tracing and might be applied to provenance studies in environment, physiology, history and archeology.

An equity indicator for assessing mental healthcare access: a national population case study.

Achieving equitable healthcare access is a global challenge. Improving whole-population mental health and reducing the global burden of mental disorders is a key recommendation of the 2018 Lancet Global Mental Health Commission, which proposed monitoring national indicators, including the proportion of people with severe mental disorders who are service-users. This study aims to derive an equity indicator from national datasets integrating need, service utilisation and socioeconomic status, and demonstrate its utility in identifying gaps in mental health service use amongst those with the greatest need, thereby guiding equitable healthcare delivery. We present a case study of a universal health insurance scheme (Medicare) in Australia. We developed the equity indicator using three national datasets. Geographic areas were linked to an area-based socioeconomic deprivation quintile (Census 2016). Per geographic area, we estimated the number with a mental healthcare need using scores ≥30 on the Kessler-10 (Australian National Health Surveys 2015 and 2018), and obtained the number of services used, defined as mental health-related contacts with general practitioners and mental health professionals (Medicare administrative data 2015-2019). We divided the number of services by the population with an estimated mental healthcare need and averaged these use-rates across each socioeconomic deprivation quintile. The equity indicator is the ratio of the use-rates in the least versus most deprived quintiles. Those estimated to have the greatest need for mental healthcare in 2019 ranged between 8.2% in the most disadvantaged area quintile (Q1) and 2.4% in the least (Q5), corresponding to a proportional increase of 27.7% in Q1 and 19.5% in Q5 since 2015. Equity-indicator-adjusted service rates of 4.2 (3.8-4.6) and 23.9 (22.4-25.4) showed that individuals with the highest need for care residing in Q1 areas received a stark 6 times fewer services compared to their Q5 counterparts, producing an equity indicator of 6. As the global prevalence of common mental disorders may be increasing, it is crucial to calculate robust indicators evaluating the equity of mental health service use. In this Australian case study, we developed an equity indicator enabling the direct comparison of geographic areas with different need profiles. The results revealed striking inequities that persisted despite publicly-funded universal healthcare, recent service reforms and being a high-income country. This study demonstrates the importance and feasibility of generating such an indicator to inform and empower communities, healthcare providers and policymakers to pursue equitable service provision.

Study design features increase replicability in brain-wide association studies.

Brain-wide association studies (BWAS) are a fundamental tool in discovering brain-behaviour associations1,2. Several recent studies have shown that thousands of study participants are required for good replicability of BWAS1-3. Here we performed analyses and meta-analyses of a robust effect size index using 63 longitudinal and cross-sectional MRI studies from the Lifespan Brain Chart Consortium4 (77,695 total scans) to demonstrate that optimizing study design is critical for increasing standardized effect sizes and replicability in BWAS. A meta-analysis of brain volume associations with age indicates that BWAS with larger variability of the covariate and longitudinal studies have larger reported standardized effect size. Analysing age effects on global and regional brain measures from the UK Biobank and the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, we showed that modifying study design through sampling schemes improves standardized effect sizes and replicability. To ensure that our results are generalizable, we further evaluated the longitudinal sampling schemes on cognitive, psychopathology and demographic associations with structural and functional brain outcome measures in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development dataset. We demonstrated that commonly used longitudinal models, which assume equal between-subject and within-subject changes can, counterintuitively, reduce standardized effect sizes and replicability. Explicitly modelling the between-subject and within-subject effects avoids conflating them and enables optimizing the standardized effect sizes for each separately. Together, these results provide guidance for study designs that improve the replicability of BWAS.

Practical methodology for quantifying the structural robustness of RC building structures

Several structural robustness requirements have been included in building codes over the past two decades. These mainly include measures to prevent collapse after an initial component failure by ensuring a minimum level of continuity within the structural system so that loads supported by the failed component can be redistributed to the rest of the structural system. However, there is still a general lack of consensus on how to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures. The present study proposes a practical methodology to evaluate the structural robustness of RC building structures by combining an efficient modelling strategy and suitable robustness indexes. The proposed computational modelling strategy for RC buildings accounts for relevant dynamic and nonlinear phenomena, including compressive arching, catenary action, and membrane effects. This strategy can be implemented at a reasonable computational expense in widely used commercial structural analysis software and has been validated by comparisons to selected experimental tests from the literature. The modelling strategy is then employed to compute four different robustness indexes proposed in the literature for three hypothetical building designs, allowing the indexes to be systematically compared. It was found that evaluating a system using multiple robustness indexes can provide a more holistic view of system performance compared to relying solely on a single index. Ultimately, the potential usefulness of the proposed methodology is demonstrated through two practical applications involving the estimation of component damage levels and the evaluation of different design and retrofitting solutions. Such a methodology can be useful for practising engineers to optimise the design of new buildings or to support decisions on the assessment and retrofitting of existing ones.

A Latin American network of microbial observatories for monitoring aquatic ecosystems

Freshwater environments and coastal marine areas provide key ecosystem services to society and serve as habitats for biodiversity. However, they face major challenges from human activities and climate factors, leading to global degradation. The effect of these agents depends on geographic location and climate, among other factors. To comprehensively understand the effect of these factors, continuous, standardized and long-term information is crucial. In particular, the aquatic microbiome plays a fundamental role in the cycling of matter and has been shown to act as a robust indicator of ecological status. Long-term monitoring of microbial assemblages can provide valuable insights into the characteristics and the changes water bodies undergo, delivering early warnings of critical impacts. Thus, the Latin American Aquatic Microbial Observatory Network (AMOLat) was set up during the inaugural meeting of the Latin American Collaborative Network on Microbial Aquatic Ecology (μSudAqua) in 2017. Observatory sites were carefully chosen, considering their accessibility and local relevance to each research group, ensuring the ongoing consistency of sampling efforts. This work aims to provide a historical overview of the network’s formation, highlighting key debates and definitions that took place during 2017-2023. Furthermore, it includes an initial characterization of the observatory sites and explores the possibilities that they offer to understand the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems in Latin America. The network presently encompasses 13 observatories, spanning a broad latitudinal range, numerous ecoregions and diverse aquatic ecosystems, displaying different environmental and anthropic impacts. Participating groups enhanced interactions, created a Protocol Book and showcased initial results through various communication efforts. Ultimately, establishing a regional network of aquatic observatories becomes mandatory for providing essential reference points to assess the response of microorganisms to global change in both the short and long term within Latin America.

The association between vigour and flexibility with injury and alertness during shift work

ABSTRACT Models of shift work and health suggest that individual differences in circadian rhythm characteristics may moderate the relationship between night shift work and injury, but this argument has not been directly tested. In this study, we tested the efficacy of two circadian rhythm characteristics—vigour and flexibility—as moderators of the path between shift work and injury. In addition, we aimed to replicate the association between vigour, flexibility, and alertness by time of day, and the measurement properties of the Circadian Type Inventory. We recruited 401 healthcare workers from Australia and Great Britain. After controlling for confounding variables, the results showed that vigour moderated the association between shift work and injury. Participants with values of vigour at the mean (β = 0.5120, p < 0.0013, 95% CI = [0.2018, 0.8223) and one standard deviation below the mean (β = 0.9048, p < 0.0001, 95% CI = [0.4648, 1.3447] reported significantly more injuries. No moderation was found for flexibility. Significant differences in alertness by time of day were observed in participants with higher levels of vigour compared to lower levels of vigour. No differences in alertness were observed for the flexibility scale. These results indicate that vigour may be a robust indicator of shift work tolerance. We replicated the posited two-factor structure of the Circadian Type Inventory, found the scales to have good reliability, and established for the first time, criterion-related validity for the vigour scale.

Earthquake risks assessment and urban vulnerability: Case of Nador city, northeast Morocco

This study introduces an innovative approach to assessing seismic risks and urban vulnerabilities in Nador, a coastal city in northeastern Morocco at the convergence of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. By integrating advanced spatial datasets, including Landsat 8–9 OLI imagery, Digital Elevation Models (DEM), and seismic intensity metrics, the research develops a robust urban vulnerability index model. This model incorporates urban land cover dynamics, topography, and seismic activity to identify high-risk zones. The application of Landsat 8–9 OLI data enables precise monitoring of urban expansion and environmental changes, while DEM analysis reveals critical topographical factors, such as slope instability, contributing to landslide susceptibility. Seismic intensity metrics further enhance the model by quantifying earthquake risk based on historical event frequency and magnitude. The calculation based on higher density in urban areas, allowing for a more accurate representation of seismic vulnerability in densely populated areas. The modeling of seismic intensity reveals that the most susceptible impact area is located in the southern part of Nador, where approximately 50% of the urban surface covering 1780.5 hectares is at significant risk of earthquake disaster due to vulnerable geological formations, such as unconsolidated sediments. While the findings provide valuable insights into urban vulnerabilities, some uncertainties remain, particularly due to the reliance on historical seismic data and the resolution of spatial datasets, which may limit the precision of risk estimations in less densely populated areas. Additionally, future urban expansion and environmental changes could alter vulnerability patterns, underscoring the need for continuous monitoring and model refinement. Nonetheless, this research offers actionable recommendations for local policymakers to enhance urban planning, enforce earthquake-resistant building codes, and establish early warning systems. The methodology also contributes to the global discourse on urban resilience in seismically active regions, offering a transferable framework for assessing vulnerability in other coastal cities with similar tectonic risks.

Losengram: an effective demodulation frequency band selection method for rolling bearing fault diagnosis under complex interferences

Abstract Resonance demodulation is one of the most effective methods for rolling bearing fault diagnosis. However, the selection of the proper demodulation frequency band (DFB) has always been considered as a substantial challenge. Although many popular DFB selection methods have been developed, such as fast Kurtogram (FK), Protrugram, and Autogram, they would suffer unsatisfactory performance degradation when encountering random impulsive noise or cyclostationary noise. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel DFB selection method called Losengram to address this problem. In the proposed method, a robust sub-band indicator, localized square envelope spectrum kurtosis, is designed to evaluate the fault information in a sub-band. With this indicator, the interferences of random impulsive noise and cyclostationary noise could be suppressed well. Besides, in order to circumvent the various adverse effects incurred by the utilization of a multi-rate finite impulse response filter bank, a frequency-domain sub-band filtering strategy is presented to filter the divided sub-bands in a 1/3-binary tree structure. The effectiveness of the proposed method is tested on both simulated and experimental signals, and the results show that it has a superior performance than the FK, Protrugram, as well as Autogram.

Safety and Efficacy of Thrombectomy in Vietnamese Stroke Patients Selected Through Perfusion Imaging With an Onset Time Between 6-24 Hours.

Introduction Recent trials have demonstrated the remarkable benefit of endovascular treatment (EVT) up to 24 hour in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) and target mismatch profiles; however, benefits of late-window EVT in Vietnamese population remain poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the real-world outcomes of EVT in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients selected using perfusion imaging within the 6- to 24-hour window. Methods A prospective study of consecutive patients with anterior circulation LVO stroke who underwent EVT within 6 to 24 hours after last known well between August 2022 and March 2024. Patients were selected based on the DAWN/DEFUSE-3 criteria (Perfusion-RAPID, iSchemaView). The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with functional independence at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2). The secondary outcomes were successful reperfusion defined by thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) ≥2b on the final procedure, and subgroup analysis between good (Hypoperfusion intensity ratio (HIR) <0.4) and poor collaterals (HIR ≥ 0.4) groups. Safety outcomes were mortality rate and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). Results Of 122 enrolled patients, 68% met inclusion criteria of DEFUSE-3 trial, 61% met DAWN trial criteria. Mean age was 66 years, median baseline NIHSS was 13, median time from stroke onset to hospital arrival was 12.55 hours (9.50 - 16.48), and median infarct volume was 11.5 mL. The rate of functional independence at 90 days was 45.9%. Successful reperfusion (TICI score of ≥2b) was achieved by 83.6% of cases. The 90-day mortality rate was 10.7%, sICH was reported in 8 patients (6.6%). Patients with good collaterals had better functional outcome. Conclusions This real-world observational study suggests that late window EVT may be safe and effective in eligible Vietnamese patients selected based on perfusion imaging, thus supporting its practical use in this patient population. Hypoperfusion intensity ratio is a robust indicator of collateral status and could made it a valuable addition to stroke imaging work-up in clinical setting.

Impact of Regional Disparities in Social Capital and Its Components on Quality of Life

According to the prevailing opinion, social capital is one of the most robust indicators of quality of life (QoL). We ask whether this insight applies to Slovakia, as well, on the basis of understanding social capital not as one holistic concept but as a set of interrelated components, which are trust, networks, and norms. The paper has two goals, the first of which is to determine the amount of social capital, its components, and QoL, as well as its spatial disparities, at a district level. In this case, the goal is to determine the quantity of the investigated variables. The data source is the World Value Survey, Round 7, in which Slovakia also participated. The second goal is to find out how social capital and its components affect the QoL in individual districts. In other words, we would like to determine the quality of the impact of social capital and its components on the QoL. The result is the knowledge that social capital as a whole reaches significantly lower values than the QoL and is not a predictor of the QoL in Slovakia. At the same time, however, disparities in the impact of social capital and its components on the QoL have high values. This knowledge challenges the understanding of holistic social capital as a robust indicator of QoL.

Redefining the impact of professional development in education with ProDES (Professional Development Evaluation Scale)

This study introduces the Professional Development Evaluation Scale (ProDES), a tool that has been developed to evaluate the impact of professional development as it relates to participants' Learning and Use of New Knowledge and Skills, Organisational Support, Student Learning Outcomes, and reactions. Grounded in Guskey’s (2000) framework for evaluating Professional Development, ProDES was developed with data from five study groups in Turkey and underwent refinement across four factors. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses confirmed the scale's structure, accounting for 62.72% of the total variance, with robust fit indices. Within this, ProDES demonstrated high internal consistency and test-retest reliability, with significant correlations validating its effectiveness. The scale's high internal consistency and test-retest reliability ensure that it can be used to make evidence-informed decisions that can foster more effective and supportive professional development activities. As a result, by identifying which professional development initiatives lead to improvements, those associated with professional development can use resources more efficiently, leading to enhanced school and system-wide improvements. Moreover, the use of ProDES can also help schools and education systems track progress over time, making ProDES an invaluable tool for continuous improvement and strategic planning.

Variable Cerebral Blood Flow Responsiveness to Acute Hypoxic Hypoxia.

Cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) to changes in blood carbon dioxide and oxygen levels is a robust indicator of vascular health. Although CVR is typically assessed with hypercapnia, the interplay between carbon dioxide and oxygen, and their ultimate roles in dictating vascular tone, can vary with pathology. Methods to characterize vasoreactivity to oxygen changes, particularly hypoxia, would provide important complementary information to established hypercapnia techniques. However, existing methods to study hypoxic CVR, typically with arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI, demonstrate high variability and paradoxical responses. To understand whether these responses are real or due to methodological confounds of ASL, we used phase-contrast MRI to quantify whole-brain blood flow in 21 participants during baseline, hypoxic, and hypercapnic respiratory states in three scan sessions. Hypoxic CVR reliability was poor-to-moderate (ICC=0.42 for CVR relative to P ET O 2 changes, ICC=0.56 relative to SpO 2 changes) and was less reliable than hypercapnic CVR (ICC=0.67). Without the uncertainty from ASL-related confounds, we still observed paradoxical responses at each timepoint. Concurrent changes in blood carbon dioxide levels did not account for paradoxical responses. Hypoxic CVR and hypercapnic CVR shared approximately 40% of variance across the dataset, indicating that the two effects may indeed reflect distinct, complementary elements of vascular regulation.