Integrity Assessment Research Articles

Exploring the Assessment Strategies of Secondary School Teachers in Schools: Views of Novice Teachers

This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of secondary school teachers in one of the Clusters of Schools in the Division of Davao City regarding their assessment practices during the post- pandemic era, utilizing phenomenological design. A semi- structured interview guide was used to gather the data. Ethical considerations were observed in data collection. The themes were extracted using thematic content analysis. The findings were: addressing learning gaps, technological challenges, social and emotional considerations, reteaching basic literacy and numeracy skills, transition to online assessment, professional development needs, and supporting diverse learners are the experiences of the teachers; their coping mechanisms are collaboration and peer learning, individualized support, clear communication, incorporate social and emotional support, adaptability and resilience, staying informed, and employ flexible assessment methods; while their insights include need for professional development, flexibility in assessment approaches, recognition of individual learning needs, technology integration assessment, considers social and emotional well-being, and collaboration and sharing best practices. The recommendation advanced included recognizing the significance of technology in assessment by the Department of Education and invest in the required infrastructure and tools, ensuring that teachers have access to reliable technology and training in order to properly use digital technologies into their assessment processes.

A data-driven approach for structural integrity assessment of prestressed concrete containment vessel considering the effect of vertical ground motions

As a final barrier against the release of radioactive material, the prestressed concrete containment vessel (PCCV) plays an important role in the nuclear power plant (NPP). When subjected to seismic loads, its structural performance requires high structural integrity. During an earthquake, the PCCV experiences ground motions (GMs) consisting of horizontal and vertical components in a global coordinate system, and its structural integrity is probably overestimated if only the horizontal component is considered in numerical analyses. In this study, a novel cumulative damage index is first employed to quantitatively assess the structural integrity of PCCVs. Accordingly, the failure probability of structural integrity of the PCCV is investigated by incremental dynamic analysis (IDA) and further seismic fragility analysis considering the effect of vertical ground motions (VGMs). The results show that the effect of VGMs on structural integrity of PCCVs is gradually non-negligible with the increase of vertical intensity. Moreover, an accurate cumulative damage prediction model for the PCCV is established based on eight mainstream machine learning (ML) algorithms, and the necessity of incorporating vertical intensity measures (IMs) in ML models is investigated. The results show that the ML model considering the vertical IMs is superior in capturing the cumulative damage of the PCCVs. The best estimates are obtained by GB with R2 of 0.912, MAE of 1.301, MSE of 6.186, and RMSE value of 2.487. Finally, the SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) method is adopted for interpreting the prediction results of the optimal ML model to assess the effect of each IM and its interactions on the generalization performance of the model. The proposed ML-based cumulative damage prediction model for PCCVs considering the effect of VGMs enables an accurate quantitative assessment on structural integrity of PCCVs. This provides an important reference for evaluating the potential environmental hazard due to the leaking of radioactive materials.

Evaluation of macular integrity, after retinal detachment surgery, using MAIA microperimetry

Background and objectiveTo describe visual function, macular integrity, and fixation stability using MAIA microperimetry (macular integrity assessment) after retinal detachment surgery. Evaluate if there are statistically significant differences between surgical approaches. Materials and methodsA prospective, comparative, interventional study was conducted, recruiting a total of 21 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and macula-off. Eleven patients underwent surgery using pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), and 10 patients underwent scleral buckle surgery. Clinical examinations and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed post-surgery. MAIA microperimetry was conducted at 6 months. ResultsBest-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and the number of letters read improved over time in the operated eye but did not reach the level of the control eye (p = 0.001). No significant differences were found between the two surgical approaches in BCVA (p = 0.230) or the number of letters read (p = 0.608). Macular integrity in the operated eye did not match that of the control eye in both procedures (p = 0.05). No differences were detected between the two surgeries, either in macular integrity (p = 0.512) or fixation stability (p = 0.835). ConclusionsFollowing retinal detachment surgery, a decrease in BCVA and the number of letters read occurs, which does not reach the level of the control eye. No significant differences were observed between the two surgical approaches. Macular integrity in the operated eye does not match that of the control eye.

Riparian trees in mercury contaminated riverbanks: An important resource for sustainable remediation management

Mining operations generate sediment erosion rates above those of natural landscapes, causing persistent contamination of floodplains. Riparian vegetation in mine-impacted river catchments plays a key role in the storage/remobilization of metal contaminants. Mercury (Hg) pollution from mining is a global environmental challenge. This study provides an integrative assessment of Hg storage in riparian trees and soils along the Paglia River (Italy) which drains the abandoned Monte Amiata Hg mining district, the 3rd former Hg producer worldwide, to characterize their role as potential secondary Hg source to the atmosphere in case of wildfire or upon anthropic utilization as biomass. In riparian trees and nearby soils Hg ranged between 0.7 and 59.9 μg/kg and 2.2 and 52.8 mg/kg respectively. In trees Hg concentrations were below 100 μg/kg, a recommended Hg limit for the quality of solid biofuels. Commercially, Hg contents in trees have little impact on the value of the locally harvested biomass and pose no risk to human health, although higher values (195–738 μg/kg) were occasionally found. In case of wildfire, up to 1.4*10−3 kg Hg/ha could be released from trees and 27 kg Hg/ha from soil in the area, resulting in an environmentally significant Hg pollution source. Data constrained the contribution of riparian trees to the biogeochemical cycling of Hg highlighting their role in management and restoration plans of river catchments affected by not-remediable Hg contamination. In polluted river catchments worldwide riparian trees represent potential sustainable resources for the mitigation of dispersion of Hg in the ecosystem, considering i) their Hg storage capacity, ii) their potential to be used for local energy production (e.g. wood-chips) through the cultivation and harvesting of biomasses and, iii) their role in limiting soil erosion from riparian polluted riverbanks, probably representing the best pragmatic choice to minimize the transport of toxic elements to the sea.

N]Cycloparaphenylenes as Compatible Fluorophores for Melt Electrowriting.

Fluorescent probes are an indispensable tool in the realm of bioimaging technologies, providing valuable insights into the assessment of biomaterial integrity and structural properties. However, incorporating fluorophores into scaffolds made from melt electrowriting (MEW) poses a challenge due to the sustained, elevated temperatures that this processing technique requires. In this context, [n]cycloparaphenylenes ([n]CPPs) serve as excellent fluorophores for MEW processing with the additional benefit of customizable emissions profiles with the same excitation wavelength. Three fluorescent blends are used with distinct [n]CPPs with emission wavelengths of either 466, 494, or 533nm, identifying 0.01wt% as the preferred concentration. It is discovered that [n]CPPs disperse well within poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and maintain their fluorescence even after a week of continuous heating at 80°C. The [n]CPP-PCL blends show no cytotoxicity and support counterstaining with commonly used DAPI (Ex/Em: 359nm/457nm), rhodamine- (Ex/Em: 542/565nm), and fluorescein-tagged (Ex/Em: 490/515nm) phalloidin stains. Using different color [n]CPP-PCL blends, different MEW fibers are sequentially deposited into a semi-woven scaffold and onto a solution electrospun membrane composed of [8]CPP-PCL as a contrasting substrate for the [10]CPP-PCL MEW fibers. In general, [n]CPPs are potent fluorophores for MEW, providing new imaging options for this technology.

An integrative risk assessment approach to enhancing patient safety in Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) serves as an intervention strategy for the management of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients. However, owing to its complex nature and the potential for complications, the implementation of CRRT demands continuous monitoring to prevent patient safety risks. This study aims to identify and validate prevalent risks linked to CRRT within a real-world clinical setting, intending to propose preventive measures grounded in expert insights. To systematically categorize and visually depict the risks, their consequences, preventive measures, and recovery controls, our study employed the Bowtie method in conjunction with the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model. In addition to considering patient-related factors that exhibit variability among critically ill individuals, our key findings showed that the most influential risks impacting the effective delivery of CRRT are incidents of clotted filters, bleeding risks arising from the necessity of anticoagulation for filter efficacy, vascular catheter-related bloodstream infections, variations in proficiency levels among healthcare professionals regarding CRRT modalities, especially in operating the CRRT machines, high nursing workload, frequent nursing turnover, occurrences of hypophosphatemia, variability in CRRT prescribing patterns, and issues related to communication among stakeholders. This research sheds light on the primary risks associated with CRRT and provides practical and viable strategies for effective management. Furthermore, the Bowtie diagram developed as part of this study serves as a valuable tool for visually representing the healthcare system and facilitating the identification of system-related risks within healthcare settings.

Tools for measuring curriculum integration in health professions’ education: a systematic review

BackgroundCurriculum integration is an important educational concept widely implemented by various educational institutions, particularly within the healthcare field. Its significance lies in enhancing the preparation of future healthcare professionals. The assessment of these integrated curricula is imperative to guarantee their effectiveness. Consequently, the aim of this systematic review is to delve into existing literature, with the goal of identifying instruments designed to assess the extent of curriculum integration in health professions’ education.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted to identify peer-reviewed papers and grey literature describing the development, validation, or use of instruments measuring the degree of integration in a curriculum. Eight databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, CINAHL Ultimate, Web of Science, Cochrane, ProQuest Central and EMBASE. Grey literature was also included. Titles, abstracts, and full text screening was conducted. Data extraction was done using a data extraction tool developed by our research team.ResultsThe search resulted in the identification of 2094 references. After the removal of duplicates and title and abstract screening, 16 articles were deemed suitable for inclusion in this systematic review. Twenty-two instruments were extracted from these articles. The identified instruments assessed either integration attributes, perceptions about the integrated curriculum characteristics, process and outcomes, or curriculum integration level. Two of the instruments were focused on assessing horizontal integration (Basic Science Curriculum Assessment Instrument and the integration characteristic tool). In addition, one instrument was developed to assess integration within a single session only, while other instruments assessed curriculum integration level. Two of the integration instruments (The Session Integration Tool and Integration Ladder Questionnaire) provided scales for calculating integration levels. Validation of the integration assessment instruments was infrequent, with only 9 of 22 instruments validated for their psychometric properties.ConclusionOur findings reveal the existence of diverse instruments designed to assess the extent of curriculum integration within health professions’ curricula. The majority of identified instruments were focused on participants’ perceptions towards the attributes of the integrated curriculum, and a significant number of these tools lacked validation.

Radiomic white matter parameters of functional integrity of the corticospinal tract in high-grade glioma

Tractography has become a widely available tool for the planning of neurosurgical operations as well as for neuroscientific research. The absence of patient interaction makes it easily applicable. However, it leaves uncertainty about the functional relevance of the identified bundles. We retrospectively analyzed the correlation of white matter markers with their clinical function in 24 right-handed patients who underwent first surgery for high-grade glioma. Morphological affection of the corticospinal tract (CST) and grade of paresis were assessed before surgery. Tractography was performed manually with MRTrix3 and automatically with TractSeg. Median and mean fractional anisotropy (FA) from manual tractography showed a significant correlation with CST affection (p = 0.008) and paresis (p = 0.015, p = 0.026). CST affection correlated further most with energy, and surface-volume ratio (p = 0.014) from radiomic analysis. Paresis correlated most with maximum 2D column diameter (p = 0.005), minor axis length (p = 0.006), and kurtosis (p = 0.008) from radiomic analysis. Streamline count yielded no significant correlations. In conclusion, mean or median FA can be used for the assessment of CST integrity in high-grade glioma. Also, several radiomic parameters are suited to describe tract integrity and may be used to quantitatively analyze white matter in the future.

Final year nursing students' preparedness for medication administration during COVID-19: A multi-site survey study

AimTo examine final-year undergraduate nursing students' characteristics and their perceived preparedness for medication administration across three universities during COVID-19. BackgroundMedication administration is a complex process and medication errors can cause harm to the patient. Nurses are at the frontline of medication administration; therefore, nursing students must be well-prepared to administer medicines safely before graduation. Little is known about final-year undergraduate nursing students' perceived medication administration preparedness during COVID-19. DesignA multi-site study using a cross-sectional survey of student demographics, the ‘Preparedness for Medication Administration’ (Revised) tool and an open-ended question. MethodsThe questionnaire was distributed to nursing students in their final semester of the program in 2022 across two universities in Australia and one in New Zealand. Completed surveys n=214. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the demographic data. Differences in demographic data and preparedness scores between the three universities were analysed using ranked means, correlation coefficient, Chi-Square, Mann- Whitney U and Kruskal- Wallace H. Directed content analysis was used to analyse the data from the open-ended question. ResultsOverall, students reported high preparedness scores for medication. International students reported significantly higher preparedness scores (Md =119, n=29) compared with domestic students (Md=112.00, n=164), U=1759.50, z=-2.231, p=02, r=.16. Mean ranked scores for each item were above average across the three universities. The impact of COVID-19 on curriculum and students' opportunity to practice may be one explanation for the difference in preparedness scores between universities. International participants reported significantly higher scores on the Preparedness for Medication Administration (Revised) tool than domestic participants. Older students were more confident in applying principles of pharmacology to practice. Students' comments generated three major categories and five subcategories indicating preparedness gaps. ConclusionThis study provides insights into students' medication management preparedness during restrictions and before transitioning to the role of Registered Nurse. It highlights the need to provide integrated and comprehensive medication education and assessments throughout the curriculum and the need for additional support for newly graduated nurses in medication management due to the restrictions.

Pathological and ultrastructural changes of Bellamya bengalensis under chronic carboxylic acid exposure at environmentally relevant levels: Inferences from general unified threshold model for survival (GUTS) predictions and hepatopancreatic integrity assessment

This study aimed to understand the effects of freshwater acidification, driven by industrial runoff, agricultural activities, and atmospheric deposition, on the freshwater mollusk Bellamya bengalensis. By systematically investigating the impact of two common carboxylic acids, acetic acid (AA) and benzoic acid (BA), this research employed diverse toxicological, pathological, and ecological assessments. We explored survival predictions through the generic unified threshold model of survival (GUTS-SD), examined oxidative stress responses, and investigated hepatopancreatic alterations. In the experimental design, Bellamya bengalensis were subjected to environmentally relevant sublethal concentrations (10%, 20% LC50) of AA (39.77 and 79.54 mg/l) and BA (31.41 and 62.82 mg/l) over 28 days. Acute toxicity tests revealed increased LC50 values, indicating heightened toxicity with prolonged exposure, particularly due to the greater potency of benzoic acid compared to acetic acid. The GUTS-SD model provided accurate predictions of time-specific effects on populations, presenting long-term exposure (100 days) LC50 values for AA (263.7 mg/l) and BA (330.9 mg/l). Sequentially, the integrated biomarker response (IBR) analysis across study intervals highlighted the 28-day interval as the most sensitive, with GST emerging as the most responsive enzyme to oxidative stress induced by AA and BA. Histopathological and ultrastructural assessments of the hepatopancreas showed severe alterations, including necrosis, vacuolation and disrupted micro-villi, which were especially pronounced in higher BA exposure concentrations. These findings highlight the health and survival impacts of carboxylic acid toxicity on Bellamya bengalensis, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to mitigate acidification in aquatic ecosystems. The broader ecological implications underscore the importance of effective management and conservation strategies to address ongoing environmental challenges

Conofolidine: A Natural Plant Alkaloid That Causes Apoptosis and Senescence in Cancer Cells.

Natural products contribute substantially to anticancer therapy; the plant kingdom provides an important source of molecules. Conofolidine is a novel Aspidosperma-Aspidosperma bisindole alkaloid isolated from the Malayan plant Tabernaemontana corymbosa. Herein, we report conofolidine's broad-spectrum anticancer activity together with that of three other bisindoles-conophylline, leucophyllidine, and bipleiophylline-against human-derived breast, colorectal, pancreatic, and lung carcinoma cell lines. Remarkably, conofolidine was able to induce apoptosis (e.g., in MDA-MB-468 breast) or senescence (e.g., in HT-29 colorectal) in cancer cells. Annexin V-FITC/PI, caspase activation, and PARP cleavage confirmed the former while positive β-gal staining corroborated the latter. Cell cycle perturbations were evident, comprising S-phase depletion, accompanied by downregulated CDK2, and cyclins (A2, D1) with p21 upregulation. Confocal imaging of HCT-116 cells revealed an induction of aberrant mitotic phenotypes-membrane blebbing, DNA-fragmentation with occasional multi-nucleation. DNA integrity assessment in HCT-116, MDA-MB-468, MIAPaCa-2, and HT-29 cells showed increased fluorescent γ-H2AX during the G1 cell cycle phase; γ-H2AX foci were validated in HCT-116 and MDA-MB-468 cells by confocal microscopy. Conofolidine increased oxidative stress, preceding apoptosis- and senescence-induction in most carcinoma cell lines as seen by enhanced ROS levels accompanied by increased NQO1 expression. Collectively, we present conofolidine as a putative potent anticancer agent capable of inducing heterogeneous modes of cancerous cell death in vitro, encouraging further preclinical evaluations of this natural product.

Intensity-based optoretinography reveals sub-clinical deficits in cone function in retinitis pigmentosa.

Clinical tools have been widely used in the diagnosis, description, and monitoring the progression of retinitis pigmentosa (RP); however, many of these methods have inherently low sensitivity and specificity, and significant photoreceptor disruption can occur before RP progression has clinically manifest. Adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) has shown promise as a powerful tool for assessing photoreceptor disruption both structurally and functionally due to its increased resolution. Here we assess photoreceptor structure and function at the cellular level through AOSLO by acquiring intensity based optoretinography (iORG) in 15 individuals with no reported retinal pathology and 7 individuals with a prior clinical diagnosis of RP. Photoreceptor structure was quantified by calculating cone nearest neighbor distance (NND) across different retinal eccentricities from the AOSLO images. Cone outer segment length was measured across different retinal eccentricities using optical coherence tomography (OCT) derived longitudinal reflectivity profiles (LRPs). Finally, iORG measures of photoreceptor function were compared to retinal sensitivity as measured using the macular integrity assessment (MAIA) microperimeter. Broadly, participants with RP exhibited increasing cone nearest neighbor distances and decreasing cone outer segment length as a function of retinal eccentricity, consistent with prior reports for both controls and individuals with RP. Nearly all individuals with RP had reduced iORG amplitudes for all retinal eccentricities when compared to the control cohort, and the reduction was greater in eccentricities further from the fovea. Comparing iORG amplitudes to MAIA retinal sensitivity, we found that the iORG was more sensitive to early changes in photoreceptor function whereas MAIA was more sensitive to later stages of disease. This highlights the utility of iORG as a method to detect sub-clinical deficits in cone function in all stages of disease progression and supports the future use of iORG for identifying cells that are candidates for cellular based therapies.

The Icelandic Prevention Model Evaluation Framework and Implementation Integrity and Consistency Assessment

The Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM) follows a systematic but flexible process of community capacity building, data collection, analysis, dissemination, and community-engaged decision-making to guide the data-informed selection, prioritization, and implementation of intervention strategies in preventing adolescent substance use. This paper describes two new evaluation tools intended to assess the: 1) integrity of IPM implementation, and 2) unique aspects of IPM implementation in different community contexts. These evaluation tools include a: 1) five-phase IPM Evaluation Framework for Assessing Value Across Communities, Cultures, and Outcomes (IPM-EF); and 2) 10-Step IPM Implementation Integrity and Consistency Assessment (IPM-IICA) that utilizes both quantitative (scored) and qualitative (narrative) data elements to characterize implementation integrity and consistency at both community coalition and school community levels. The IPM-EF includes five phases. Phase 1: Describe the Intervention Context; Phase 2a: Document the Extent to Which the 10 Steps of the IPM were Implemented (using the IPM-IICA scored); Phase 2b: Document the Unique Community-Specific Methods Used within the 10 Steps of the IPM to Tailor Local Intervention Delivery (using the IPM-IICA narrative); Phase 3: Measure Changes in Community Risk and Protective Factors; Phase 4: Measure the Outcomes Associated with the IPM; and Phase 5: Investigate Multiple Full Cycles Over Time.

Vibration-based assessment of the structural integrity of a masonry wall system with single opening subjected to progressive damage induced by out-of-plane loading conditions

Vibration-based assessment of the structural integrity of a masonry wall system with single opening subjected to progressive damage induced by out-of-plane loading conditions

Lessons learned in migrating from one commercial genetics decision-support tool to another: Assessment of data integrity and utilization readiness.

e23232 Background: Rapid advancements in health information technology have greatly influenced how clinicians engage with patient health data. In the context of clinical genetics, the electronic health record (EHR) often contains a wide array of data to identify patients at elevated risk for hereditary cancer syndromes. However, these data often exist in multiple forms and disparate locations, which in the presence of numerous commercial EHR solutions, results in significant variations in how institutions codify genetic data. Furthermore, within an institution, there is often internal pressure to migrate from one support tool to another, necessitating a focus on data integrity during such a transition. Methods: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center (Fred Hutch) is a large academic cancer care center associated with the University of Washington. Between July and December 2023, the Fred Hutch Clinical Cancer Genetics and Genetic Counseling Service migrated their family history database from commercial pedigree software, Progeny, to another commercial pedigree and decision-support tool, CancerIQ. Following completion of the data migration on more than 13,000 patient records, study team planned to review a total of 500 randomly selected patient charts in both support tools. Each chart was reviewed to determine: (1) the presence of genetic intake information, (2) the presence and results of genetic testing, if available, and (3) whether the patient met National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) criteria for testing. A chart was noted to be concordant between the two support tools if there was agreement in all three of the above. Results: So far, a total of 240 patient charts were reviewed between the two support tools. Of these, 226 (94.2%) were noted to be fully concordant. Of the 14 charts that were noted to be discordant, the distribution of the discordant data was: 5 charts differed on whether genetic testing had been ordered, 5 charts differed on the results of the testing (often omitting one or more variants), and 4 differed on whether the patient met NCCN criteria for testing. Conclusions: At our institution, there was high data integrity following migration from one commercial and pedigree-generating software solution to another. While these results can ease clinician concerns following such support tools transitions, it also highlights areas for improvement in how family and patient genetic data is recorded.

Integral Assessment of Anthropogenic Impact on the Baikal Natural Territory: Methodological Approaches and Typology of Municipal Districts

Integral Assessment of Anthropogenic Impact on the Baikal Natural Territory: Methodological Approaches and Typology of Municipal Districts

Modern approaches to the formation of systems for evaluating the level of enterprises digitization

The article examines the essence of the concept of digital transformation of enterprises, which includes the introduction of digital technologies into the enterprise's business processes, management processes, and communication processes. The available approaches to assessing the level of digital transformation of enterprises, which is a necessary tool for further development strategy, were analyzed. It was determined that existing studies and scientific publications on the formation of systems for evaluating the level of digital development need some refinement, taking into account the specifics of the enterprises to which they are applied. A unique approach to forming an assessment of the level of digital transformation of aviation enterprises was proposed, according to which it is proposed to apply an integral assessment that takes into account indices of digital activity, maturity and interaction. The advantage of this approach is taking into account the specific processes inherent in aviation industry enterprises and forming a tool that allows you to assess the possibility of functioning of various aviation market subjects in a single information field. Special attention was paid to the method of calculating indicators that are part of the indices of digital activity, maturity and interaction. Thus, the assessment of the level of digital transformation of aviation enterprises will allow in the future to develop a joint strategy for the formation of a digital space in which the subjects of the aviation market will function.

The impact of experimental diabetes on intracerebral haemorrhage. A preclinical study

Although diabetes mellitus negatively affects post-ischaemic stroke injury and recovery, its impact on intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the effect of experimental diabetes (ED) on ICH-induced injury and neurological impairment. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced with ED 2 weeks before ICH induction. Animals were randomly assigned to four groups: 1)Healthy; 2)ICH; 3)ED; 4)ED-ICH. ICH and ED-ICH groups showed similar functional assessment. The ED-ICH group exhibited significantly lower haemorrhage volume compared with the ICH group, except at 1 mo. The oedema/ICH volume ratio and cistern displacement ratio were significantly higher in the ED-ICH group. Vascular markers revealed greater expression of α-SMA in the ED groups (ED and ED-ICH) compared with ICH. Conversely, the ICH groups (ED-ICH and ICH) exhibited higher levels of VEGF compared to the healthy and ED groups. An assessment of myelin tract integrity showed an increase in fractional anisotropy in the ED and ED-ICH groups compared with ICH. The ED group showed higher cryomyelin expression than the ED-ICH and ICH groups. Additionally, the ED groups (ED and ED-ICH) displayed higher expression of MOG and Olig-2 than ICH. As for inflammation, MCP-1 levels were significantly lower in the ED-ICH groups compared with the ICH group. Notably, ED did not aggravate the neurological outcome; however, it results in greater ICH-related brain oedema, greater brain structure displacement and lower haemorrhage volume. ED influences the cerebral vascularisation with an increase in vascular thickness, limits the inflammatory response and attenuates the deleterious effect of ICH on white matter integrity.

Under pressure: assessment of chemical stress on restored river sections using effect‐based methods

Aquatic ecosystems are affected by multiple stressors, including hydrological and morphological degradation, high nutrient loading, and chemical pollution. To improve freshwater habitats, hydromorphological restorations have been increasingly implemented. However, follow‐up assessments often show little to no improvement in ecological status, even years after restoration measures have been implemented. The success of restoration projects can be compromised by other stressors, such as insufficient water and sediment quality, which often receive less attention compared to nonchemical stressors. In this study, the impact of chemical stress on the outcome of five river restorations was evaluated ecologically, chemically, and ecotoxicologically. Overall, the habitat structure was considerably improved through the restoration measures, whereas the species communities did not show a consistent trend toward an improved ecological status. Effect‐based methods were used for an integrative assessment of the exposure to chemical mixtures in water and sediment samples of restored stream sections. Differences in toxicity between restored and non‐restored sections were found but did not show a consistent trend among the applied assays. In contrast, the chemical analysis showed that the sections of the same stream were similar in their chemical composition, and differences within a stream were primarily due to sediment contamination. The results of this study suggest that chemical pollution is a relevant factor preventing the success of restoration measures and, ultimately, the improvement of the ecological status of rivers. They also demonstrate the applicability of EBMs in water quality monitoring to detect mixture toxicity in streams and link chemical and ecological assessment.

Probabilistic fracture mechanics analyses of a reactor pressure vessel using the irradiation embrittlement evaluation based on the Bayesian nonparametric method

In the structural integrity assessment of an embrittled reactor pressure vessel (RPV) based on probabilistic fracture mechanics (PFM), it is crucial to consider both of the mean value and the uncertainty of the embrittlement prediction. Typically, the embrittlement prediction uncertainty is given by a normal distribution, and its standard deviation is determined from the residuals of the measured and predicted values of all data used to develop the embrittlement prediction method. Therefore, the same uncertainty is assumed regardless of neutron fluence and the available data. To overcome this issue, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency recently developed the embrittlement prediction method based on machine learning and Bayesian statistics, i.e., the Bayesian nonparametric (BNP) method, and introduced it to the PFM analysis code. The BNP method can predict the probability distribution according to data scarcity and provide more reasonable uncertainty because it estimates significant uncertainties where the scatter of actual measured data is large and the number of data is small. In this study, PFM analysis for a Japanese model RPV in a pressurized water reactor is conducted using the PFM analysis of structural components in aging light water reactors, where the embrittlement probability distribution calculated using the BNP method is used. Furthermore, the effects of different embrittlement prediction methods and uncertainties on the failure frequency of RPVs are investigated in the PFM analyses, and the results are presented.