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Background/purpose To establish regression models of physical and equivalent dose in 2 Gy per fraction (EQD 2 ) plan parameters of two kinds of hybrid planning for stage III NSCLC. Methods Two kinds of hybrid plans named conventional fraction radiotherapy & stereotactic body radiotherapy (C&S) and conventional fraction radiotherapy & simultaneous integrated boost (C&SIB) were retrospectively made for 20 patients with stage III NSCLC. Prescription dose of C&S plans was 2 Gy × 30f for planning target volume of lymph node (PTV LN ) and 12.5 Gy × 4f for planning target volume of primary tumor (PTV PT ), while prescription dose of C&SIB plans was 2 Gy × 26f for PTV LN and sequential 2 Gy × 4f for PTV LN combined with 12.5 Gy × 4f for PTV PT . Regression models of physical and EQD 2 plan parameters were established based on anatomical geometry features for two kinds of hybrid plans. The features were mainly characterized by volume ratio, min distance and overlapping slices thickness of two structures. The possibilities of regression models of EQD 2 plan parameters were verified by spearman’s correlation coefficients between physical and EQD 2 plan parameters, and the influence on the consistence of fitting goodness between physical and EQD 2 models was investigated by the correlations between physical and EQD 2 plan parameters. Finally, physical and EQD 2 models predictions were compared with plan parameters for two new patients. Results Physical and EQD 2 plan parameters of PTV LN CI 60Gy have shown strong positive correlations with PTV LN volume and min distance (PT to LN) , and strong negative correlations with PTV PT volume for two kinds of hybrid plans. PTV (PT+LN) CI 60Gy is not only correlated with above three geometry features, but also negatively correlated with overlapping slices thickness (PT and LN) . When neck lymph node metastasis was excluded from PTV LN volume, physical and EQD 2 total lung V 20 showed a high linear correlation with corrected volume ratio (LN to total lung). Meanwhile, physical total lung mean dose (MLD) had a high linear correlation with corrected volume ratio (LN to total lung) , while EQD 2 total lung MLD was not only affected by corrected volume ratio (LN to total lung) but also volume ratio (PT to total lung). Heart D 5 , D 30 and mean dose (MHD) would be more susceptible to overlapping structure (heart and LN) . Min distance (PT to ESO) may be an important feature for predicting EQD 2 esophageal max dose for hybrid plans. It’s feasible for regression models of EQD 2 plan parameters, and the consistence of the fitting goodness of physical and EQD 2 models had a positive correlation with spearman’s correlation coefficients between physical and EQD 2 plan parameters. For total lung V 20 , ipsilateral lung V 20 , and ipsilateral lung MLD, the models could predict that C&SIB plans were higher than C&S plans for two new patients. Conclusion The regression models of physical and EQD 2 plan parameters were established with at least moderate fitting goodness in this work, and the models have a potential to predict physical and EQD 2 plan parameters for two kinds of hybrid planning.

Digital terrain model (DTM) generation is essential to recreating terrain morphology once the external elements are removed. Traditional survey methods are still used to collect accurate geographic data on the land surface. Given the emergence of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with low-cost digital cameras and better photogrammetric methods for digital mapping, efficient approaches are necessary to allow rapid land surveys with high accuracy. This paper provides a review, complemented with the authors’ experience, regarding the UAV photogrammetric process and field survey parameters for DTM generation using popular commercial photogrammetric software to process images obtained with fixed-wing or multicopter UAVs. We analyzed the quality and accuracy of the DTMs based on four categories: (i) the UAV system (UAV platforms and camera); (ii) flight planning and image acquisition (flight altitude, image overlap, UAV speed, orientation of the flight line, camera configuration, and georeferencing); (iii) photogrammetric DTM generation (software, image alignment, dense point cloud generation, and ground filtering); (iv) geomorphology and land use/cover. For flat terrain, UAV photogrammetry provided a horizontal root mean square error (RMSE) between 1 to 3 × the ground sample distance (GSD) and a vertical RMSE between 1 to 4.5 × GSD, and, for complex topography, a horizontal RMSE between 1 to 7 × GSD and a vertical RMSE between 1.5 to 5 × GSD. Finally, we stress that UAV photogrammetry can provide DTMs with high accuracy when the photogrammetric process variables are optimized.

Background High-intensity interval training (HIIT) interventions are becoming more common in schools. However, limited input has been sought from end-users, which can help design interventions that are more engaging and context appropriate, therefore increasing their potential for successful implementation. One method of engaging end-users is co-design, which involves an active collaboration to design solutions to pre-specified problems. This paper aimed to: (1) describe the methodology and results of the co-design process in Making a HIIT to develop HIIT workouts for a school-based intervention; and (2) evaluate the feasibility and impact of co-designing HIIT workouts with students and teachers within the health and physical education (HPE) curriculum. Methods The development of the HIIT workouts occurred during obligatory HPE lessons with year seven and eight students. The co-design process included: (1) identifying barriers and facilitators to exercise to create evaluation criteria for creating the HIIT workouts; (2) exploring HIIT; (3) defining HIIT parameters (intensity and interval length); (4) creating HIIT workouts using the parameters and evaluation criteria; (5) trialling and modifying the HIIT workouts based on class feedback and intensity data. To evaluate the feasibility and impact of the co-design process, a thematic analysis was completed using teacher interviews, student discussions, and student surveys. Results Five classes comprised of 121 students (12–14 years; 49% female) and five teachers were involved in the co-design process across three schools in Queensland, Australia. A total of 33 HIIT workouts were created aimed at satisfying the HIIT parameters and variations of the following evaluation criteria: (1) fun; (2) social; (3) achievable skill level; (4) feeling accomplished; and (5) beneficial for health. From the thematic analysis, three themes (acceptability; implementation; integration) and 12 codes contributed to the overarching understanding of the feasibility of the lessons within the curriculum and a further three themes (perceived changes to lessons; educative outcomes; personal and social capabilities) and three codes contributed towards understanding their impact. Conclusion Overall, co-designing HIIT workouts was feasible within the HPE curriculum and may have contributed to positive educative outcomes. Using this methodology could improve the implementation of HIIT interventions within HPE while supporting educative benefits.

1-Hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole (HOAT) as a key benzotriazole derivative has been widely used in biological, chemical, and pharmaceutical fields. Nevertheless, its energetic property was usually neglected and its thermal hazard characteristics were still unknown. Therefore, this study focused on analyzing the thermal hazard characteristics of HOAT in nonisothermal, isothermal, and adiabatic conditions through differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analyzer, and accelerating rate calorimeter. The relevant thermal decomposition parameters and process safety parameters were evaluated, and the most probable mechanistic function of the main exothermic stage of HOAT decomposition was identified. The microscopic pyrolysis mechanisms of HOAT were investigated based on density functional theory calculations, thermogravimetric-photoionization mass spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive spectra tests. Electrostatic potentials, Laplacian bond order, and main decomposition pathways of HOAT pyrolysis were explored. The research results demonstrated that HOAT decomposition is a process with large amounts of heat and gas released rapidly. The main gaseous products include N 2 , C 2 H 2 , NO, and HCN. The most dangerous step is the six-membered ring opening to form a five-membered carbon–nitrogen heterocyclic with higher heat release. This study contributed to understanding the thermal decomposition characteristics of HOAT and properly providing guidance for improving the thermal safety of HOAT production, transportation, storage, application and formulating emergency plans for related thermal hazards. Graphical abstract

The identification of parameters that can quantitatively describe the different characteristics of urban morphology is fundamental to studying urban ventilation and microclimate at the local level and developing parameterizations of the dynamic effect of an urban area in mesoscale models. This paper proposes a methodology to calculate four morphological parameters, namely mean height, aspect ratio, sky view factor, and plan area ratio, of five cities located in southern (Bari and Lecce), central (Naples and Rome), and northern (Milan) Italy. The calculation is performed using the Geographical Information System (GIS), starting from morphological and land use data collected and analyzed in shapefiles. The proposed methodology, which can be replicated in other cities, also presents in detail the procedure followed to properly build input data to calculate the sky view factor using the UMEP GIS tool. The results show a gradual increase in the plan area index, λp, and mean building height, H¯, moving from the south to the north of Italy. Maximum values of λp and H¯ are obtained in the regions of Milan, Rome, and Naples, where the highest spatially-averaged values are also found, i.e., λp = 0.22, H¯ = 10.9 m in Milan; λp = 0.19, H¯ = 12.7 m in Rome; λp = 0.20, H¯ = 12 m in Naples. Furthermore, for all the cities investigated, areas characterized by the Corine Land Cover class as “continuous urban fabric” are those with medium sky view factor SVF values (around 0.6–0.7) and λp values (around 0.3) typical of intermediate/compact cities. The methodology employed here for calculating morphological parameters using GIS proves to be replicable in different urban contexts. This opens to a better classification of cities in local climate zones (LCZ), as shown for the Lecce region, useful for urban heat island (UHI) studies and to the development of parameterizations of the urban effects in global and regional climate models.

Intrinsic parameter estimation by self-calibration is commonly used in Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based photogrammetry with Structure from Motion (SfM). However, obtaining stable estimates of these parameters from image-based SfM—which relies solely on images, without auxiliary data such as ground control points (GCPs)—remains challenging. Aerial imagery acquired with the constant-pitch (CP) flight pattern often exhibits non-linear deformations, highly unstable intrinsic parameters, and even alignment failures. We hypothesize that CP flights form a “critical configuration” that renders certain intrinsic parameters indeterminate. Through numerical experiments, we confirm that a CP flight configuration does not provide sufficient constraints to estimate focal length (f) and the principal point coordinate (cy) in image-based SfM. Real-world CP datasets further demonstrate the pronounced instability of these parameters. As a remedy, we show that by introducing intermediate strips into the CP flight plan—what we call a CP-Plus flight—can effectively mitigate the indeterminacy of f and cy in simulations and markedly improve their stability in all tested cases. This approach enables more effective image-only SfM workflows without auxiliary data, simplifies data acquisition, and improves three-dimensional reconstruction accuracy.

The appearance of cracks in brittle materials in general and in marble, in particular, is a problem in the hydro-abrasive jet cutting process. In this paper is presented a method to reduce the appearance of cracks when cutting with a hydro-abrasive jet of marble by using statistical analysis. The Taguchi method was used, establishing the main parameters that influence the process. Research design was based on performing experiments by modifying the parameters that influence the process. In this way, it has been shown that the stochastic effects resulting from the marble structure can be reduced. A careful study was made of the behavior of marble under the action of the hydro-abrasive jet, and of the behavior of the whole process in the processing of brittle materials. Results of experiments confirmed the hypothesis that statistical analysis is a procedure that can lead to a decrease in the number of cracks in processing. The measurement was performed with precise instruments and analyzed with recognized software and according to the results obtained, the reduction of the number of cracks is achieved through use of low pressure, a minimum stand-off distance and a small tube diameter. In this way, the paper presents a new and effective tool for optimizing the cutting with a hydro-abrasive jet of marble.

The aim of the study is the tribological analysis of the crane drum brakes. A theoretical analysis of the wear processes for brake lining was performed and the coefficient of friction under tribological conditions was determined experimentally simulating the operating conditions for three types of brakes. The theoretical study of the wear was oriented towards of determining the lifetime of the brake lining. In the experimental determination of the coefficient of friction, the following parameters were taken into account: the contact pressure between the shoe and the drum; the initial speed of the brake drum; the humidity of the working environment; and the temperature of the drum-brake lining friction surfaces. After performing the experiments, a statistical analysis was conducted, that shows the amount the coefficient of friction is influenced by the previously mentioned parameters: the highest weight was humidity with a value of 35.58%, followed by temperature with a percentage of 23.95%, velocity with 4.54%, and lastly pressure with 4.19%. Furthermore, the equation that expresses the dependence between the coefficient of friction and the parameters is determined. We consider that the results obtained are important for brake manufacturers in order to improve braking efficiency and the safety of overhead cranes.

Spatial erosion of stock structure through local overfishing can lead to stock collapse because fish often prefer certain locations, and fisheries tend to focus on those locations. Fishery managers are challenged to maintain the integrity of the entire stock and require scientific approaches that provide them with sound advice. Here we propose a Bayesian hierarchical spatio-temporal modelling framework for fish abundance data to estimate key parameters that define spatial stock structure: persistence (similarity of spatial structure over time), connectivity (coherence of temporal pattern over space), and spatial variance (variation across the seascape). The consideration of these spatial parameters in the stock assessment process can help identify the erosion of structure and assist in preventing local overfishing. We use Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in eastern Canada as a case study an examine the behaviour of these parameters from the height of the fishery through its collapse. We identify clear signals in parameter behaviour under circumstances of destructive stock erosion as well as for recovery of spatial structure even when combined with a non-recovery in abundance. Further, our model reveals the spatial pattern of areas of high and low density persists over the 41 years of available data and identifies the remnant patches. Models of this sort are crucial to recovery plans if we are to identify and protect remaining sources of recolonization for Atlantic cod. Our method is immediately applicable to other exploited species.

Triangular plan form weirs are advantageous over a normal weir in two ways. Within the limited channel width, use of such a weir increases the crest length and hence for a given head, increases the discharge and for a given discharge, reduces the head in comparison with a normal weir. In a previous study, researchers proposed an empirical equation to compute the discharge coefficient of a triangular plan form weir. The prediction error on the discharge coefficient was ±7% from the line of agreement. In the present study, an ANN model has been utilized to train randomly selected 70% data, with 15% tested and validation made for the remaining 15% data. The model predicts the discharge coefficient with a prediction error in the range of ±2.5% from the line of agreement, thereby decreasing the prediction error in Cd by 64%. Also, the sensitivity analysis of the developed ANN model has been performed for all the parameters (weir height, skew weir length and flow depth) involved in the study and the weir height was found to be the most sensitive parameter. Furthermore, the linked ANN–optimization model has been developed to find the optimal values of design parameters of a triangular plan form weir for maximum discharge.