Potential Cost Research Articles

Floating offshore wind potential for Mediterranean countries

Floating offshore wind is a promising renewable energy source for several Mediterranean Countries. The exploitation of this resource will contribute to reducing carbon dependence and support the clean energy transition towards a climate neutral Europe. This work presents a novel methodology for estimating spatially-resolved Levelised Cost of Energy and offshore wind energy potential to provide optimal design of floating offshore wind farms in the Mediterranean Sea. For the first time, each site is optimised based on electrical grid cable design and wind farm layout optimisation using the Jensen wake model. The largest technical capacity potentials are obtained in Libya, Tunisia, Italy and Greece, accounting for 72.2 % of the total Mediterranean potential with a total installed capacity of 782 GW. The average LCOE is 93.4 €/MWh and the average capacity factor is 31.8 %, while 67.5 % of the technical potential has LCOE below 90 €/MWh which demonstrates that floating offshore wind in the Mediterranean could become soon competitive with other renewable energies. Optimal floating wind farm design parameters show the prevalence of a wind farm array of 10x10 wind turbines with a preferred rated power of 15 MW and the HVDC export cable connection. Among the selected floating platforms, Hywind outperforms WindFloat and GICON-SOF in 59.2 % of the suitable areas due to the lower structure material. Policymakers and stakeholders will primarily benefit from this study, which provides them with important information for careful marine spatial planning and the development of floating offshore wind farms in the Mediterranean.

The Effect of Horizontal Pay Transparency on Employee Motivation When Pay Dispersion Is Performance Based and Non-Performance Based

ABSTRACT The movement toward pay transparency within firms has intensified. We investigate the effect of horizontal pay transparency on employee motivation in a broader information environment where (1) performance-based and non-performance-based pay dispersion coexist and (2) relative performance information allows employees to alleviate pay dispersion ambiguity in order to assess the basis of any pay dispersion that pay transparency reveals. Drawing on distributive justice theory, we predict and find that pay transparency differentially affects employees’ motivation based on what it reveals about their relative standing while working under the same performance incentives. Specifically, it depends on whether they are underpaid, overpaid, or their relative pay aligns with their relative performance. Our analysis provides additional insights related to these three scenarios, and in doing so, our study highlights the importance of considering employees’ broader information environment when considering the potential benefits and costs associated with pay transparency. Data Availability: Data are available from the authors upon request.

Freedom comes at a cost?: An exploratory study on affordances' impact on users' perception of a social robot.

Along with the development of speech and language technologies, the market for speech-enabled human-robot interactions (HRI) has grown in recent years. However, it is found that people feel their conversational interactions with such robots are far from satisfactory. One of the reasons is the habitability gap, where the usability of a speech-enabled agent drops when its flexibility increases. For social robots, such flexibility is reflected in the diverse choice of robots' appearances, sounds and behaviours, which shape a robot's 'affordance'. Whilst designers or users have enjoyed the freedom of constructing a social robot by integrating off-the-shelf technologies, such freedom comes at a potential cost: the users' perceptions and satisfaction. Designing appropriate affordances is essential for the quality of HRI. It is hypothesised that a social robot with aligned affordances could create an appropriate perception of the robot and increase users' satisfaction when speaking with it. Given that previous studies of affordance alignment mainly focus on one interface's characteristics and face-voice match, we aim to deepen our understanding of affordance alignment with a robot's behaviours and use cases. In particular, we investigate how a robot's affordances affect users' perceptions in different types of use cases. For this purpose, we conducted an exploratory experiment that included three different affordance settings (adult-like, child-like, and robot-like) and three use cases (informative, emotional, and hybrid). Participants were invited to talk to social robots in person. A mixed-methods approach was employed for quantitative and qualitative analysis of 156 interaction samples. The results show that static affordance (face and voice) has a statistically significant effect on the perceived warmth of the first impression; use cases affect people's perceptions more on perceived competence and warmth before and after interactions. In addition, it shows the importance of aligning static affordance with behavioural affordance. General design principles of behavioural affordances are proposed. We anticipate that our empirical evidence will provide a clearer guideline for speech-enabled social robots' affordance design. It will be a starting point for more sophisticated design guidelines. For example, personalised affordance design for individual or group users in different contexts.

Probing the effect of perceptual (dis)fluency on metacognitive judgments.

Despite research showing that perceptually fluent stimuli (i.e., stimuli that are easier to process) are given higher judgment of learning (JOL) ratings than perceptually disfluent stimuli, it remains unknown whether the influence of perceptual fluency on JOLs is driven by the fluent or disfluent items. Moreover, it is unclear whether this difference hinges on relative differences in fluency. The current study addressed these unanswered questions by employing (Fiacconi et al., Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition 46:926-944, 2020), Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 46[5], 926-944) letter set priming procedure. In this procedure, participants are first exposed to words containing only a subset of letters. Following this exposure, JOLs to new words composed of the same letters (i.e., fluent), and new words composed of nonexposed letters (i.e., disfluent) are compared with isolate the contribution of perceptual fluency. Because this procedure does not rely on parametric variations in perceptual features, we can directly assess the potential benefit and/or cost of fluent and disfluent items, respectively, by including neutral baseline conditions. Moreover, implementing both a mixed- and pure-list design allowed us to assess the comparative nature of perceptual fluency on JOLs. Counter to previous assumptions, our results are the first to demonstrate that perceptual disfluency decreases JOLs. Moreover, we found that the influence of perceptual disfluency on JOLs hinges on the relative differences in fluency between items even in the absence of a belief about the mnemonic impact of the fluency manipulation. These findings have important implications as they provide evidence that the difficulty, rather than ease, of information form the basis of individuals metacognitive judgments.

Tackling Uncertainty: Forecasting the Energy Consumption and Demand of an Electric Arc Furnace with Limited Knowledge on Process Parameters

The iron and steel industry significantly contributes to global energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The rising deployment of volatile renewables and the resultant need for flexibility, coupled with specific challenges in electric steelmaking (e.g., operation optimization, optimized power purchasing, effective grid capacity monitoring), require accurate energy consumption and demand forecasts for electric steel mills to align with the energy transition. This study investigates diverse approaches to forecast the energy consumption and demand of an electric arc furnace—one of the largest consumers on the grid—considering various forecast horizons and objectives with limited knowledge on process parameters. The results are evaluated for accuracy, robustness, and costs. Two grid connection capacity monitoring approaches—a one-step and a multi-step Long Short-Term Memory neural network—are assessed for intra-hour energy demand forecasts. The one-step approach effectively models energy demand, while the multi-step approach encounters challenges in representing different operational phases of the furnace. By employing a combined statistic–stochastic model integrating a Seasonal Auto-Regressive Moving Average model and Markov chains, the study extends the forecast horizon for optimized day-ahead electricity procurement. However, the accuracy decreases as the forecast horizon lengthens. Nevertheless, the day-ahead forecast provides substantial benefits, including reduced energy balancing needs and potential cost savings.

Assessment of the application prospects of reverse vaccinology in vaccine development

Reverse vaccinology (RV) is a groundbreaking approach that uses bioinformatics and sequencing techniques to identify and design vaccines that target specific antigen epitopes. Compared to traditional methods, RV is faster, more specific, and potentially safer. It expedites antigen identification, optimizes antigen selection, and enhances vaccine design through computer-assisted epitope selection and linker optimization. RV offers advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and safety by reducing the need for complex procedures and animal immunization. It has been successfully applied in the development of vaccines for various diseases, including SARS-CoV-2 and HPV. Challenges remain, but RVs efficiency, specificity, and potential cost savings position it as a powerful tool in global vaccine development efforts. Continued research and innovation in antigen optimization, epitope design, linker selection, safety considerations, and collaboration will further enhance RVs potential for tackling existing and emerging diseases. Overall, RV revolutionizes vaccine development, offering a promising approach to improve global health outcomes.

Quantifying the Financial and Climate Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Abatement Pathways in Residential Space Heating

New York State (NYS) has set strict greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets across all sectors of its economy, including the heating sector. This study examines the financial value and environmental impacts of the residential space heating sector in NYS under different GHG abatement options by comparing the existing natural gas heating pathway with three potential GHG abatement pathways: renewable natural gas (RNG), hydrogen blended into RNG, and air-source heat pumps (ASHPs). These pathways are analyzed via a comparative net present value (NPV) framework from 2022 to 2042 with the emission reduction represented as a revenue stream that serves as a function of the social cost of GHGs. The investment timing of each of these pathways is also accounted for to reflect the pathways’ varying deployment timelines. The ASHP pathway with a 10% financial discount rate and a 2% social cost of the GHG discount rate achieves the lowest NPV. The RNG pathway achieves the highest NPV. A sensitivity analysis determines the impact of key factors on the NPV results. This study aims to inform policymakers, homeowners, and stakeholders of the potential benefits and costs of each of the four pathways to aid them in their decision-making process.

An approach based on deep learning methods to detect the condition of solar panels in solar power plants

Solar panels are increasingly popular due to global energy shortages and rising costs. However, managing large or elevated panel systems requires regular oversight, leading to potential time and cost challenges. This study was focused on developing an AI-based drone for panel detection to address these issues and facilitate the control process. A low-cost system for AI-based identification of dusty, broken, and healthy solar panels was created using a Raspberry Pi 4B board and camera. The study proposed a Histogram Equalization (HE)-based preprocessing technique to improve the AI model. Firstly, the trainings were performed with YOLOv5 without the proposed method at epoch values of 100, 150, and 200 in order to see the effectiveness of the proposed method more clearly. As a result of these trainings, the highest F1 score was obtained as 80 %. In the second step, three deep learning algorithms - YOLOv5, YOLOv7, and YOLOv8 - with epochs of 100, 150, and 200 respectively, were used for training with the proposed method. A detailed comparative analysis of the developed models was carried out regarding their performance metrics. The YOLOv5l was obtained as the most successful panel detection model with an F1 score of 97 % at 150 epochs. The model with the best performance metrics was used in a real-time test application with an AI-based drone. F1 score results were obtained between 90 % and 97 %, mainly supporting the success rate obtained in real-time application. The results strongly support the effectiveness of this proposed method for panel detection tasks, showcasing its high efficacy and promising potential.

Gall-inducing and building habit in Lixinae weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Among the Lixinae, at least 35 species are gall inducers. Twenty six species have larvae with building activity (lists of both are provided). Fifteen species are root gallers (tribe Cleonini) and 20 species are stem gallers (Lixini). Their gall morphology (shape, colour, size), habitat peculiarities and typical gall development are described. A new classification of galls according to their inhabitants and formation is proposed. The data obtained suggest that galling depends on the thickness of the transformed plant parts. The potential benefits and costs of galling to gall inducers are discussed. Data on the diversity of parasitoids indirectly support a protective role for galls. A summary of information on special larval constructions is presented. Two types of such constructions are—the ground capsules and the trehalas. These are closed chambers whose walls consist of a small soil and plant particles bound with sticky larval secretions. Capsules and trehalas are attached to the plant and serve to complete preimaginal development. Both are functionally similar to galls.

Enabling Personalized Medicine in Orthopaedic Surgery Through Artificial Intelligence: A Critical Analysis Review.

» The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in the field of orthopaedic surgery holds potential for revolutionizing health care delivery across 3 crucial domains: (I) personalized prediction of clinical outcomes and adverse events, which may optimize patient selection, surgical planning, and enhance patient safety and outcomes; (II) diagnostic automated and semiautomated imaging analyses, which may reduce time burden and facilitate precise and timely diagnoses; and (III) forecasting of resource utilization, which may reduce health care costs and increase value for patients and institutions.» Computer vision is one of the most highly studied areas of AI within orthopaedics, with applications pertaining to fracture classification, identification of the manufacturer and model of prosthetic implants, and surveillance of prosthesis loosening and failure.» Prognostic applications of AI within orthopaedics include identifying patients who will likely benefit from a specified treatment, predicting prosthetic implant size, postoperative length of stay, discharge disposition, and surgical complications. Not only may these applications be beneficial to patients but also to institutions and payors because they may inform potential cost expenditure, improve overall hospital efficiency, and help anticipate resource utilization.» AI infrastructure development requires institutional financial commitment and a team of clinicians and data scientists with expertise in AI that can complement skill sets and knowledge. Once a team is established and a goal is determined, teams (1) obtain, curate, and label data; (2) establish a reference standard; (3) develop an AI model; (4) evaluate the performance of the AI model; (5) externally validate the model, and (6) reinforce, improve, and evaluate the model's performance until clinical implementation is possible.» Understanding the implications of AI in orthopaedics may eventually lead to wide-ranging improvements in patient care. However, AI, while holding tremendous promise, is not without methodological and ethical limitations that are essential to address. First, it is important to ensure external validity of programs before their use in a clinical setting. Investigators should maintain high quality data records and registry surveillance, exercise caution when evaluating others' reported AI applications, and increase transparency of the methodological conduct of current models to improve external validity and avoid propagating bias. By addressing these challenges and responsibly embracing the potential of AI, the medical field may eventually be able to harness its power to improve patient care and outcomes.

But what if I lose the offer? Negotiators’ inflated perception of their likelihood of jeopardizing a deal

When deciding whether to negotiate, individuals typically assess any potential costs of negotiation. We propose that one major cost that individuals are concerned about, particularly in the context of job offers, is an offer being withdrawn from the bargaining table—losing out on a deal entirely. We refer to this heretofore unexamined concern as the perceived likelihood of jeopardizing a deal by negotiating. We investigate job candidates’ perceived likelihood of jeopardizing a deal, as compared to hiring managers’ reports, across seven studies (total N = 3,338), including surveys of academic job candidates and members of academic hiring committees, managers and hiring professionals, and experimental studies with interactive, incentivized negotiations conducted both in person and online. We consistently document that job candidates’ perception of the likelihood of jeopardizing a deal is exaggerated, i.e., discrepant with that of the hiring side. In some cases, this perception is associated with negotiation avoidance. We also theorize and find support for two underlying psychological mechanisms: zero-sum perceptions and psychological power. We further document contextual factors that decrease candidates’ zero-sum perceptions or increase their perceived power, which, in turn, diminish (but do not fully eliminate) the discrepancy between candidates’ and managers’ perceptions of the likelihood of jeopardizing a deal.

Comparison of Distance-Based Uncorrected Visual Acuity Based on the Optical Profile of Same Platform IOLs.

To compare and evaluate uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) from far to near distance for four different optical designs of intraocular lenses (IOLs), developed on the same IOL platform. In a cohort of 121 patients, who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery in Zengyo Suzuki Eye Clinic, Japan, between June 2018 and November 2023, and who received a single-piece TECNIS OptiBlue™ platform series IOL, the following four groups were established based on the IOL implant type: ZCB00V (TE), ZXR00V (SF), DFR00V (SG), and DIB00V (EH). UCVA at 5 m, 1 m, 70 cm, 50 cm, 40 cm, and 30 cm, as well as contrast sensitivity (with and without glare), was compared at one month post-operation. Regarding diffractive IOLs, patients in the SG group demonstrated significantly improved visual acuity at 5 m, 50 cm, 40 cm, and 30 cm, while those in SF group performed significantly better at 1 m. Among non-diffractive IOLs, patients in the EH group demonstrated significantly improved visual acuity scores at 1 m, 70 cm, 40 cm, and 30 cm, compared to individuals in the TE group, with comparable results between the two groups at 5 m and 50 cm. Patients in the SF and EH groups achieved similar results for visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, while those in the SG group exhibited a distinctive decrease in contrast sensitivity (with glare) relative to the other three groups. DFR00V seemingly provides excellent UCVA from near to far distances, aiming for spectacle independence, although at the potential cost of decreased contrast sensitivity compared to the other three IOL types. Furthermore, although ZXR00V and DIB00V differ lens structures, they may nonetheless provide similar visual quality and spectacle independence in daily life.

Arthroscopic distal clavicle resection versus conservation in patients with combined rotator cuff tears and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis.

The most common cause of shoulder pain originating from the acromioclavicular (AC) joint is osteoarthritis, causing pain and disability. Operative Management of AC arthritis includes arthroscopic distal clavicle resection (DCR) and open clavicle resection. This study was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of isolated rotator cuff repair with conservative treatment of ACJ arthritis versus the combined resection of the distal clavicle with the repair of a rotator cuff tear, in cases with acromioclavicular arthritis. A total of 46 patients with unilateral or bilateral combined rotator cuff tear and acromioclavicular arthritis were included, they were classified into 2 independent groups: Conservative group (23 patients), and DCR group (23 patients). All patients were subjected to full history taking, examination, pre and post-operative University of California at Los Angeles shoulder scoring scale (UCLA), Antero-Posterior and Zanca X-rays views, early and late complications. Mean age was (51 ± 9) years, males were predominant (56.5%). The average post-operative UCLA score was (31.1 ± 4.9), and the average time to return to work was (214 ± 22). (2.2%) of patients had early complications, (19.6%) had late complications, (32.6%) had > 24h till 1st post-operative analgesia, and (87%) needed MgSO4 Injection. We found a highly significant increase in UCLA score measurements in the Conservative group, and a highly significant increase in UCLA score measurements in the DCR group (p < 0.01). But there was no difference between the 2 groups. Conventional conservative approach with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and subacromial decompression has proven to be as effective as arthroscopic rotator cuff repair and subacromial decompression with DCR, in terms of efficacy and safety profiles in short term, but with more risks of potential hazards and cost with the DCR.

Reflections from the Business School's margins: On doing engaged scholarship

In this response to Lees's opening article on engaged dialogue, we reflect on doing engaged scholarship in the context of UK high streets. We foreground three facets of this approach: first, collaborating with partners beyond the ivory tower; second, engaging with ‘left-behind’ places; and third, reconsidering the value of academic outputs to move beyond esteemed journals. We offer these insights working as an interdisciplinary collective focused on helping communities to make their places better, which some might say is marginal within a Business School research agenda context. Finally, we conclude that, despite the challenges we have encountered doing engaged scholarship, the rewards of generating real-world impact outweigh any potential personal costs to our individual career ambitions.

Routine pretransfusion testing before primary total hip or knee arthroplasty are an expensive and wasteful routine. Systematic review and meta-analysis.

The excessive routine ordering of pretransfusion tests (blood typing, screening, and cross-matching) for surgical cases incurs significant unnecessary costs and places an undue burden on transfusion services. This study aims to systematically review the literature regarding the necessity of routine pretransfusion tests before total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and summarize their outcomes. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed. The study's characteristics, the prevalence of over-ordering pretransfusion tests, transfusion rates, and potential cost savings to the healthcare system were analyzed. The study included 17,667 patients. Pooled results revealed a 96.3% over-ordering pretransfusion test rate (95% CI: 0.92-1.00; p < 0.001) among patients undergoing primary THA or TKA. The pooled prevalence of hospital transfusion rate was 3.6%. Notably, there were statistically significant differences in preoperative hemoglobin (Hb) levels between patients not requiring transfusion (Hb = 13.9g/dl; 95% CI 12.59-15.20; p < 0.001) and those needing transfusion (Hb = 11.9g/dl; 95% CI 10.69-13.01; p < 0.001) (p = 0.03). The per-patient total cost savings ranged from 28.63 to 191.27 dollars. Our study suggests that routine pre-transfusion testing for all patients undergoing primary THA or TKA may be unnecessary. We propose limiting pretransfusion test orders to patients with preoperative hemoglobin levels below 12g/dl in unilateral primary TKA or THA. This targeted approach can result in significant cost savings for healthcare systems and transfusion services by reducing the over-ordering of pretransfusion tests in these surgical procedures.

Do-not-attempt resuscitation policy reduced in-hospital cardiac arrest rate and the cost of care in a developing country

ABSTRACT We aim to study the characteristics and outcomes of patients with a Do-Not-Attempt Resuscitation and to determine its impact on the Cost of In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. A retrospective study of all adult patients admitted to the hospital from June 2021 to May 2022 who had a Do-Not-Resuscitate order. We abstracted patients’ socio-demographics, physiologic parameters, primary diagnosis, and comorbiditiesfrom the electronic medical records. We calculated the potential economic cost using the median ICU length of stay for the admitted IHCA patients during the study period. There were 28,866 acute admissions over the study period, and 788 patients had DNR orders. The median (IQR) age was 71 (55-82) years, and 50.3% were males. The most prevalent primary diagnosis was sepsis, 426 (54.3%), and cancer was the most common comorbidity. More than one comorbidities were present in 642 (80%) of the cohort. Of the DNR patients, 492 (62.4%) died, while 296 (37.6%) survived to discharge. Cancer was the primary diagnosis in 65 (22.2%) of those who survived, compared with 154 (31.3%) of those who died (P = 0.002). Over the study period, 153 patients had IHCA and underwent CPR, with an IHCA rate of 5.3 per 1,000 hospital admissions. Without a DNR policy, an additional 492 patients with cardiac arrest would have had CPR, resulting in an IHCA rate of 22.3 per 1000 hospital admissions. Most DNR patients in our setting had sepsis complicated by multiple comorbidities. The DNR policy reduced our IHCA incidence by 76% and prevented unnecessary post-resuscitation ICU care.

Economic growth targets and bank risk exposure: Evidence from China

Managing growth targets to maintain economic growth is a common practice worldwide. Using data of local commercial banks over the period 2003 to 2019, we examine the effect of local economic growth targets on the risk exposure of commercial banks in China. We find that local economic growth targets are positively associated with bank risk exposure. This relationship is more pronounced in (1) state-owned banks and those with executives having stronger promotion incentives, (2) provinces with politicians at critical stages for promotion, lower marketization, and lower growth potential, and (3) periods with bleak economic outlook and greater economic policy uncertainty. We further discuss two possible channels through which growth targets affect bank risk: the credit allocation channel and the credit quality channel. Our study sheds new light on the potential costs associated with local governments’ efforts to stabilize economic growth from the perspective of bank risk exposure.

Enhanced humification via lignocellulosic pretreatment in remediation of agricultural solid waste

Stover and manure are the main solid waste in agricultural industry. The generation of stover and manure could lead to serious environmental pollution if not handled properly. Composting is the potential greener solution to remediate and reduce agricultural solid waste, through which stover and manure could be remediated and converted into organic fertilizer, but the long composting period and low efficiency of humic substance production are the key constraints in such remediation approach. In this study, we explore the effect of lignocellulose selective removal on composting by performing chemical pretreatment on agricultural waste followed by utilization of biochar to assist in the remediation by co-composting treatment and reveal the impacts of different lignocellulose component on organic fertilizer production. Aiming to discover the key factors that influence humification during composting process and improve the composting quality as well as comprehensive utilization of agricultural solid waste. The results demonstrated that the removal of selective lignin or hemicellulose led to the shift of abundances lignocellulose-degrading bacteria, which in turn accelerated the degradation of lignocellulose by almost 51.2%. The process also facilitated the remediation of organic waste via humification and increased the humic acid level and HA/FA ratio in just 22 days. The richness of media relies on their lignocellulose content, which is negatively correlated with total nitrogen content, humic acid (HA) content, germination index (GI), and pH, but positively correlated with fulvic acid (FA) and total organic carbon (TOC). The work provides a potential cost effective and efficient framework for agricultural solid waste remediation and reduction.

New Coal Char-Based Building Products: Manufacturing, Engineering Performance, and Techno-Economic Analysis for the USA Market

Common building products, i.e., thin brick and stone veneer, add the look of brick walls or the enduring charm of natural stones into buildings and houses without imposing a substantial increase in structural load. This study investigates the mechanical strength, durability, and economic feasibility of producing innovative char-based thin bricks and stone veneers. The char-based thin brick vacuum treated with hydrophobic liquid exhibits water absorption rates within the 4–7% range, displays durability against 50 freeze–thaw (F-T) cycles, and maintains a saturation coefficient below 0.6. In contrast, commercial thin bricks have water absorption of 9–12%. Treated char-based stone veneer has water absorption of 5.3% and an average compressive strength of 19.2 MPa, maintains its structural integrity throughout 50 F-T cycles, and exhibits a negligible linear shrinkage of approximately 0.01%. In contrast, commercial stone veneers have water absorption of 10–16%. These engineering properties meet the criteria as per ASTM standards C1088 and C1670 for thin brick and stone veneer, respectively. A techno-economic study was preliminarily conducted to examine the potential cost efficiency and cash flow in manufacturing these char-based building products. The manufacturing cost of USD 25.83 is lower than the average market price of 64.65 USD/sq. m. for thin bricks. The manufacturing cost of USD 32.65 is lower than the average market price of 129.17 USD/sq. m. for stone veneers. These comparisons present a compelling economic advantage for their commercialization. This comprehensive study has demonstrated the advantages of sustainable char-based stone veneers and thin bricks regarding engineering performance and economic benefits.

Work Productivity and General Health Through 2 Years of Guselkumab Treatment in a Phase 3 Randomized Trial of Patients With Active Psoriatic Arthritis.

To evaluate the effect of guselkumab on work productivity and nonwork daily activity impairment and general health status through 2years in patients who were biologic-naïve with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in the phase 3 DISCOVER-2 clinical trial. Adult patients with PsA were randomized to subcutaneous injections of guselkumab 100mg every 4weeks (Q4W); at weeks 0, 4, then every 8 weeks (Q8W); or placebo (throughweek 24 with crossoverto guselkumab Q4W). Work productivity and nonwork daily activity impairment were assessed using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire for PsA (WPAI-PsA) and patient-reported general health status using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) Index and EQ-Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS). Least-squares (LS) mean changes from baseline in WPAI-PsA domains and EQ-5D-5L/EQ-VAS were assessed through week 100. Changes in employment status were utilized to estimate potential indirect savings from improved work productivity. Of 739 randomized patients, 738 had available baseline data for the analyses (Q4W 245; Q8W 248; placebo 245). At week 24, greater improvements in work productivity, nonwork daily activity, and EQ-5D-5L/EQ-VAS were observed in the Q4W and Q8W groups versus the placebo group. At week 100, LS mean reductions in work productivity impairment (- 23.8% to - 28.0%) and nonwork daily activity impairment (- 26.6% to - 29.2%) and improvements in EQ-5D-5L/EQ-VAS (0.14 to 0.15/21.2 to 25.0) were maintained in patients receiving guselkumab. Among patients employed at baseline, 12.1-16.4% were not employed at week 100, and 20.0-25.3% shifted from not employed at baseline to employed at week 100. Potential yearly indirect cost savings (USD) from improved work productivity at week 100 ranged from $16,529 to $19,409. Patients with active PsA treated with guselkumab demonstrated reduced impairment in work productivity and nonwork daily activity, together with improvement in general health status and substantial potential cost savings, over a 2-year period. Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03158285.