Unveiling hierarchy and spatial distribution of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter methylation in World Health Organization grade 2-3 gliomas.

This study investigated the role of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter (MGMTp) methylation hierarchy and heterogeneity in grade 2-3 gliomas, focusing on variations in chemotherapy benefits and resection dependency. A cohort of 668 newly diagnosed grade 2-3 gliomas, with comprehensive clinical, radiological, and molecular data, formed the basis of this analysis. The extent of resection was categorized into gross total resection (GTR ≥100%), subtotal resection (STR >90%), and partial resection (PR ≤90%). MGMTp methylation levels were examined using quantitative pyrosequencing. Our findings highlighted the critical role of GTR in improving the prognosis for astrocytomas (IDH1/2-mutant and 1p/19q non-codeleted), contrasting with its lesser significance for oligodendrogliomas (IDH1/2 mutation and 1p/19q codeletion). Oligodendrogliomas demonstrated the highest average MGMTp methylation levels (median: 28%), with a predominant percentage of methylated cases (average methylation levels >20%). Astrocytomas were more common in the low-methylated group (10%-20%), while IDH wild-type gliomas were mostly unmethylated (<10%). Spatial distribution analysis revealed a decrement in frontal lobe involvement from methylated, low-methylated to unmethylated cases (72.8%, 59.3%, and 47.8%, respectively). In contrast, low-methylated and unmethylated cases were more likely to invade the temporal-insular region (19.7%, 34.3%, and 40.4%, respectively). Astrocytomas with intermediate MGMTp methylation were notably associated with temporal-insular involvement, potentially indicating a moderate response to temozolomide and underscoring the importance of aggressive resection strategies. In conclusion, our study elucidates the complex interplay of MGMTp methylation hierarchy and heterogeneity among grade 2-3 gliomas, providing insights into why astrocytomas and IDH wild-type lower-grade glioma might derive less benefit from chemotherapy.

The Case for a Quantitative Approach to the Study of Nonnative Accent Features.

Research with nonnative speech spans many different linguistic branches and topics. Most studies include one or a few well-known features of a particular accent. However, due to a lack of empirical studies, little is known about how common these features are among nonnative speakers or how uncommon they are among native speakers. Moreover, it remains to be seen whether findings from such studies generalize to lesser-known features. Here, we demonstrate a quantitative approach to study nonnative accent features using Dutch-accented English as an example. By analyzing the phonetic distances between transcriptions of speech samples, this approach can identify the features that best distinguish nonnative from native speech. In addition, we describe a method to test hypotheses about accent features by checking whether the prevalence of the features overall varies between native and nonnative speakers. Furthermore, we include English speakers from the United States and United Kingdom and native Dutch speakers from Belgium and The Netherlands to address the issue of regional accent variability in both the native and target language. We discuss the results concerning three observed features. Overall, the results provide empirical support for some well-known features of Dutch-accented English, but suggest that others may be infrequent among nonnatives or in fact frequent among natives. In addition, the findings reveal potentially new accent features, and factors that may modulate the expression of known features. Our study demonstrates a fruitful approach to study nonnative accent features that has the potential to expand our understanding of the phenomenon of accent.

Conditionality and the negotiation of core elements in university social representations.

The aim of the present research is to investigate the phenomenon of the negotiation of the central core elements of a social representation under the effect of the confirmation of another, in relation to their intra core hierarchy, to understand the socio cognitive conditions in which this negotiation takes place and the role of conditionality in this. Also, in the effects it has on the perceptual and evaluative activity of the subjects. Two experimental procedures it was conducted. Based on our results: • when there was no condition, the simultaneous questioning of a primary central element, which founds the meaning of a representation (PCE) is not compensated by the confirmation of an adjunctive central element, which only specifies it (ACE) and subjects do not accept the representation, • while in the conditionality: the questioning of a primary central element (PCE) is compensated by the confirmation of an adjunctive central element (ACE) and leads instead to the acceptance of the representation. We conclude that our research findings, allow us to make it possible to understand further the internal functioning of the central system of a social representation, and the term of negotiability of a central element, which depends on the position and role of this element at the socio-cognitive level in the structure of the representation.

Selection of an alternate cementitious mortar using ceramic tile dust waste: a hybrid MCDM approach.

Selection of a suitable alternative material from a pool of alternatives with many conflicting criteria becomes a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problem. In the present study, ternary blended mortars were prepared using ceramic tile dust waste (CTD), fly ash (FA), and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) as binder components. Crusher dust (CD) was used as a fine aggregate component. Binder to aggregate ratios of 1:3 and 1:1 were prepared considering suitable flow. A total of 16 mortar mixes were cast. These mortars were tested for various conflicting criteria compressive strength, flexural strength, porosity, water absorption, bulk density, thermal conductivity, specific heat, thermal diffusivity, and thermal effusivity whose weightages obtained were 29.09%, 20.08%, 12.77%, 10.60%, 8.74%, 6.74%, 5.54%, 4.47%, and 1.97%, respectively, as per AHP analysis. Later, considering these different criteria and alternate mortars, it was observed that a 1:1 mortar with 20% CTD, 30% FA, and 50% GGBFS (RC20F30G50) is found to be the suitable mortar with the highest relative closeness coefficient of 0.861 and the highest net outranking flow of 0.316 with respect to MCDM techniques: technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and preference ranking organization method for enrichment of evaluations (PROMETHEE-II), respectively. The ranking of the mortar in both methods complies with the relative weightages of the criteria and the performance of the mortars with respect to the above criteria.

Optimization of the extraction process for Shenshou Taiyi powder based on Box-Behnken experimental design, standard relation, and FAHP-CRITIC methods.

BACKGROUND: Ancient classic prescription play a crucial role in the preservation and advancement of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories. They represent a significant milestone in the ongoing development and transmission of TCM knowledge and practices and are considered one of the breakthroughs in the development of TCM inheritance. In the process of developing ancient classic prescriptions, many problems may still arise in ensuring quality consistency between traditional methods and modern production processes, among which the extraction process poses major challenges. This paper introduces a practical approach extracting an ancient classic prescription using a modern extraction process. The technique is demonstrated through the study of the extraction process of Shenshou Taiyi powder (STP). METHODS: This study focuses on optimising the STP extraction process to ensure consistency in the quality of the product obtained through ancient and modern processes using the standard relation and fuzzy analytic hierarchical process (FAHP) and criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) method integrated weights combined with the Box-Behnken response surface test. Using the contents of rosmarinic acid, isoimperatorin, puerarin, as well as the extract yield and fingerprint similarity as evaluation indexes of STP, the Box-Behnken response surface method was employed to examine the varying extraction parameters, including water addition ratio, extraction duration, and number of extractions. The weighted coefficients for each parameter were calculated by combining the benchmark correlation and FAHP-CRITIC method, deriving a comprehensive score. RESULTS: The optimal extraction process for STP consisted of a two extractions, each using at a tenfold quantity of water, performed for one hour. Process verification across three separate batches yielded a comprehensive score of 94.7, with a relative standard deviation of 0.76%. CONCLUSIONS: The application of the Box-Behnken response surface method combined with standard relation and FAHP-CRITIC approach proved to be stable and feasible for optimising the extraction process of STP.

Interaction of drought-influencing factors for drought mitigation strategies in Lam Ta Kong Watershed, Khorat Plateau.

Generally, drought is influenced by both spatial characteristics and anthropogenic activities within an area. Drought vulnerability assessment is a critical tool that can be effectively used to develop proper drought mitigation strategies to prevent avoidable losses. To develop suitable drought mitigation strategies, the overall drought vulnerability must be assessed, and the interaction among drought-influencing factors in the area should be considered. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the interactions among critical drought-influencing factors and drought vulnerability in the Lam Ta Kong Watershed via spatial analysis with the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and geographical information system (GIS) technology. Ten drought-influencing factors were considered in the vulnerability assessment: slope, elevation, soil texture, soil fertility, stream density, precipitation, temperature, precipitation days, evaporation, and land use. The results indicated that the critical drought-influencing factors were precipitation, precipitation days, and land use, resulting in most of the watershed experiencing high drought vulnerability (35.1% of the watershed or 1810.83 km2). Moreover, this research highlighted the interactions among the critical drought-influencing factors. Precipitation interacted with precipitation days to cause drought vulnerability across the watershed, with a p-value <0.05. Similarly, the interactions between precipitation and land use and between precipitation days and land use, with p-values <0.05, showed that they were associated with and influenced by drought in the Lam Ta Kong Watershed. This study further indicated that appropriate drought mitigation strategies for this watershed must consider the interactions among these drought-influencing factors, as well as their specific interactions across the watershed.

Sustainability in the Public Healthcare Sector: Insights From an Analytical Hierarchy Process Analysis.

Background This study aimed to identify sustainability priorities within Oman's healthcare sector using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methodology. Mainly, it focused on assessing the relative importance of economic, environmental, and social factors and their sub-elements in sustaining Oman's healthcare system. Methodology A semi-quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed to collect data from 23 Omani healthcare experts with at least 10 years of experience in five different public hospitals in Oman. The AHP methodology was used to analyze pairwise comparisons of sustainability factors and derive their priorities. The consistency ratio was calculated to ensure the reliability of the analysis, and the transitivity rule was applied to address inconsistencies in pairwise comparisons. Results The findings revealed a strong emphasis on environmental and social sustainability, with economic considerations ranking comparatively lower. Circular practices emerged as a key priority within the environmental domain, while patient satisfaction stood out within the social domain. The analysis showed the integration between healthcare, environmental health, and societal well-being, emphasizing the need for holistic approaches to sustainability. Conclusions This study contributes to the understanding of healthcare sustainability by providing empirical evidence of stakeholder preferences within Oman's healthcare system. By quantitatively assessing the relative importance of economic, environmental, and social factors, it informs decision-making and resource allocation toward sustainable healthcare development. The findings also support the argument for integrated approaches to healthcare sustainability that balance economic efficiency with environmental protection and social inclusion.

Wildlife habitat suitability analysis and mapping the former dhidhessa wildlife sanctuary using GIS-based analytical hierarchal process and weighted linear combination methods.

Management of wildlife populations and the creation of conservation programs depend on the evaluation of wildlife habitats. Habitat suitability mapping is a technique typically used to map appropriate environmental factors and assess species existence in different areas. This study aims to map wildlife habitat suitability sites in Former Dhidhessa wildlife sanctuary, Ethiopia, using GIS-based Analytical Hierarchal Process and Weighted Linear Combination Methods. This study used both primary and secondary data sources. Datasets used to collect data include Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Landsat 9 (OLI/TIRS) and population data. Beside, large mammalian species occurrence data obtained from field survey was used. To map wildlife habitat suitability sites in Former Dhidhessa wildlife sanctuary, environmental factors such as proximity of road network, distance to surface water, land use land cover types, slope, population density and topography were used with the integration of species occurrence data recorded from the study area. These environmental factors scaled to common ranges, and assigned appropriate weights. The quantile classification method was utilized to classify suitability index into five zones (unsuitable, less suitable, moderately suitable, suitable, and highly suitable) to produce the map. Accordingly, the model revealed that 18.9 % of the study area is highly suitable, 19.5 % is suitable, 19.9 % is moderately suitable, 19.5 % is less suitable, and 22.2 % is unsuitable for wildlife. About 58.3 % of the study area is currently identified as suitable for wildlife whereas 41.7 % is unsuitable. This showed that the former Dhidhessa wildlife sanctuary is still having large suitable habitats that can support wide ranges of wildlife. Hence, based on the developed preliminary habitat suitability indices and maps, the federal and local governments shall reevaluate the status of former Dhidhessa wildlife sanctuary and develop future conservation and management plans to enhance the conservation of wildlife and their habitats in the area.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: Achieving Outcomes, Improving Value, and Work Environment - Lessons Learned from the Pandemic.

Health care delivery science, according to Faerber, "focuses on ways to improve health and services to individuals and populations." The triple aim, described as improving population health, enhancing the care experience, and reducing costs; is a model for health care improvement. In 2014, the triple aim expanded to the quadruple aim to include the health and satisfaction of health care professionals.

Safety Evaluation for Fabricated Small Box Girder Bridges Based on Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process and Monitoring Data.

During the operation of fabricated small box girder bridges, which face safety issues such as structural degradation and failure, there is an urgent need to propose a safety evaluation method to cope with the possible risks. This article quantitatively evaluates the safety state of a fabricated small box girder bridge in Wuhan City based on Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and structural health monitoring (SHM) data. Firstly, the FAHP model is established, and stress, deformation, and temperature are selected as evaluation factors. The safety thresholds of stress and deformation are determined by combining the industry specifications and the historical statistical patterns of the massive SHM data. The temperature field of the bridge is simulated and analyzed by combining ANSYS, HYPERMESH, and TAITHREM, and the most unfavorable temperature gradient is determined as a threshold for the safety evaluation. Finally, the scores of indexes of the bridge are determined based on the measured SHM data, which in turn provides a quantitative description of the safety state. The results show that the thresholds determined by the joint industry specifications and the massive SHM data are reasonable; the temperature field simulation model established in this article is consistent with the measured results, and can accurately determine the temperature gradient of the bridge. The safety evaluation result from the FAHP model is the same as the field test results, which verifies the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed method to actual bridge projects.

Spatial Distribution and Hierarchical Behaviour of Cattle Using a Virtual Fence System.

Interest in virtual fencing has increased due to its flexibility for agriculture and rewilding. However, systems like Nofence© require large financial investments, and the need for individual collars complicates large-scale use. If cattle herds maintain cohesive groups around leading individuals, fewer collars could be used, thereby enhancing cost efficiency. This study investigates the pattern in spatial distribution in a herd of 17 Angus cows on Fanø in Denmark with GPS locations, using a Nofence© system. The aim of this paper is to determine how individuals position themselves in a herd, spatially, and identify a pattern in ranks. The method used in this study examines the distances between an individual to the rest of the herdmates using nearest neighbour and descriptive statistics. Contrary to expectations, this study did not reveal a distinct pattern in herd distribution. While some tendencies in spatial distribution patterns were observed, only a low concordance could be found (W=0.15,p<0.001), indicating great variability in the cattle's ranks. A cumulative curve of the ranks estimated over the entire periods, however, allowed a rough estimation of the hierarchy and allowed identification of the highest-ranked cows, making the use of a cumulative curve a possible solution to finding the high-ranked cows. This research underscores the complexity of cattle social structures and highlights the need for extended observation periods and alternative methodologies to enhance the cost-effectiveness and scalability of virtual fencing in agricultural and rewilding contexts.

Analyzing the Shortcomings in Smart Healthcare for Remote Home Care-A Case Study of the Taiwan Market.

In Taiwan, remote healthcare initially focused on telemedicine, with systematic development starting in 2007 through the "Remote Care Pilot Program" and subsequent initiatives. Significant advancements came with the "Remote Health Care Services Development Plan" in 2010, which integratedArtificial intelligence and Information and communications technologies, enhancing smart healthcare in home care. This study investigated strategic gaps in smart healthcare applications for remote home care using a mixed-methods approach, particularly the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). This study identified and ranked strategic gaps, including "legal regulations", "economic factors", "user behavior habits", "policy and culture", and "environment and technology". Findings, based on in-depth interviews with 6 experts and 16 AHP questionnaire samples, highlight "legal regulations" and "user behavior habits" as critical areas needing attention. Addressing these gaps can improve user acceptance and the effectiveness of smart healthcare applications, providing valuable insights for future research and practice in making remote home care more comprehensive and efficient.

The impact of corporate climate risk perception on green outward foreign direct investment.

How to address climate risks and achieve green transformation has become a critical issue that businesses urgently need to consider. We apply growth option theory and prospect theory to examine the impact of corporate climate risk perceptions on green outward foreign direct investment (GFDI) using a research sample of heavily polluting listed companies in China from 2009 to 2022. Our findings reveal that companies with higher perceived climate risks tend to increase their inclination towards GFDI, and the informal hierarchy of boards reinforces the positive effect of both. Supplementary analyses indicate that through GFDI, corporations can exert positive effects on their own environmental performance and future green innovations. The positive impact is notably more visible in nonstate-owned companies and sample units from provinces along the Belt and Road. These findings extend the economic consequences of climate risk at the firm level from the perspective of international business research and provide empirical references for firms to promote their own green transformation from a practical perspective.

Identifying quality indicators for home care services: a modified Delphi and Analytic Hierarchy Process study.

BACKGROUND: As the recipients of home care services, patients have the most direct and profound experience of service quality. There is limited knowledge as to quality indicators for home care services from patients' perspective. This study aimed to identify quality indicators for home care services based on the Service Quality model and determine the weights of these indicators. METHODS: A two-round Delphi survey and Analytic Hierarchy Process consultation were conducted to gather opinions from national experts on quality indicators for home care services developed on the basis of the Service Quality model. Consensus was defined as at least 80% agreement on the importance (important and very important) of indicators among experts. The Analytic Hierarchy Process was used to calculate the weight coefficients of the identified indicators. RESULTS: The response rate was 95.0% and 97.4% in the first and second round, respectively. After two rounds, five first-level (tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy) and 23 second-level indicators were identified. The Kendall's W values were 0.54 and 0.40 for the first-level and second-level indicators (p < 0.001). The weight coefficients for the first-level and second-level indicators were 0.110-0.298 and 0.019-0.088, respectively. CONCLUSION: Quality indicators for home care services were identified based on the Service Quality model. These indicators can be used to evaluate the service quality of home care from patients' perspective and facilitate to determine work priorities and improve the quality of home care.

Satellite-based rainwater harvesting sites assessment for Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan.

Water scarcity in arid regions poses significant livelihood challenges and necessitates proactive measures such as rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems. This study focuses on identifying RWH sites in Dera Ghazi Khan (DG Khan) district, which recently experienced severe water shortages. Given the difficulty of large-scale ground surveys, satellite remote sensing data and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques were utilized. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach was employed for site selection, considering various criteria, including land use/land cover, precipitation, geological features, slope, and drainage. Landsat 8 OLI imagery, GPM satellite precipitation data, soil maps, and SRTM DEM were key inputs. Integrating these data layers in GIS facilitated the production of an RWH potential map for the region. The study identified 9 RWH check dams, 12 farm ponds, and 17 percolation tanks as suitable for mitigating water scarcity, particularly for irrigation and livestock consumption during dry periods. The research region was classified into four RWH zones based on suitability, with 9% deemed Very Good, 33% Good, 53% Poor, and 5% Very Poor for RWH projects. The generated suitability map is a valuable tool for hydrologists, decision-makers, and stakeholders in identifying RWH potential in arid regions, thereby ensuring water reliability, efficiency, and socio-economic considerations.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Cross-Talk between the Flagellar Transcriptional Hierarchy and Secretion System in Plesiomonas shigelloides.

Plesiomonas shigelloides, a Gram-negative bacillus, is the only member of the Enterobacteriaceae family able to produce polar and lateral flagella and cause gastrointestinal and extraintestinal illnesses in humans. The flagellar transcriptional hierarchy of P. shigelloides is currently unknown. In this study, we identified FlaK, FlaM, FliA, and FliAL as the four regulators responsible for polar and lateral flagellar regulation in P. shigelloides. To determine the flagellar transcription hierarchy of P. shigelloides, the transcriptomes of the WT and ΔflaK, ΔflaM, ΔfliA, and ΔfliAL were carried out for comparison in this study. Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and luminescence screening assays were used to validate the RNA-seq results, and the Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) results revealed that FlaK can directly bind to the promoters of fliK, fliE, flhA, and cheY, while the FlaM protein can bind directly to the promoters of flgO, flgT, and flgA. Meanwhile, we also observed type VI secretion system (T6SS) and type II secretion system 2 (T2SS-2) genes downregulated in the transcriptome profiles, and the killing assay revealed lower killing abilities for ΔflaK, ΔflaM, ΔfliA, and ΔfliAL compared to the WT, indicating that there was a cross-talk between the flagellar hierarchy system and bacterial secretion system. Invasion assays also showed that ΔflaK, ΔflaM, ΔfliA, and ΔfliAL were less effective in infecting Caco-2 cells than the WT. Additionally, we also found that the loss of flagellar regulators causes the differential expression of some of the physiological metabolic genes of P. shigelloides. Overall, this study aims to reveal the transcriptional hierarchy that controls flagellar gene expression in P. shigelloides, as well as the cross-talk between motility, virulence, and physiological and metabolic activity, laying the groundwork for future research into P. shigelloides' coordinated survival in the natural environment and the mechanisms that infect the host.

How (not) to Talk to a Plant: An Application of Automata Theory to Plant Communication.

Plants are capable of a range of complex interactions with the environment. Over the last decade, some authors have used this as evidence to argue that plants are cognitive agents. While there is no consensus on this view, it is certainly interesting to approach the debate from a comparative perspective, trying to understand whether different lineages of plants show different degrees of responsiveness to environmental cues, and how their responses compare with those of animals or humans. In this paper, I suggest that a potentially fruitful approach to these comparative studies is provided by automata theory. Accordingly, I shall present a possible application of this theory to plant communication. Two tentative results will emerge. First, that different lineages may exhibit different levels of complexity in response to similar stimuli. Second, that current evidence does not allow to infer great cognitive sophistication in plants.

Neural crest and sons: role of neural crest cells and Schwann cell precursors in development and gland embryogenesis.

In this review, we consider the multipotency of neural crest cells (NCCs), Schwann cell precursors (SCPs), and their role in embryogenesis base on genetic tracing and knock out model animals and single cell transcriptomic analysis. In particular, we summarize and analyze data on the contribution of NCCs and SCPs to the gland development and functions.

Experimental Research on Crack Resistance of Steel-Polyvinyl Alcohol Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete.

This paper investigates the effects of steel fiber and PVA fiber hybrid blending on the compressive strength (fcc), splitting tensile strength (fts), compression energy (W1.0), and shrinkage properties of concrete. It also establishes a multi-factor crack resistance index evaluation model based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to comprehensively evaluate the crack resistance of concrete. The results show that the steel-PVA hybrid fiber (S-PVA HF) further enhances fcc, fts, the compression energy, and the shrinkage suppression properties of the concrete. The crack resistance of the steel-PVA hybrid fiber concrete (S-PVA HFRC) is the best when the proportion of steel fiber is 1.0% and that of the PVA fiber is 0.2%, and it increases up to 143% compared to the baseline concrete. The established concrete crack resistance evaluation model has a certain reliability.

Building up a model family for inflammations.

The paper presents an approach for overcoming modeling problems of typical life science applications with partly unknown mechanisms and lacking quantitative data: A model family of reaction-diffusion equations is built up on a mesoscopic scale and uses classes of feasible functions for reaction and taxis terms. The classes are found by translating biological knowledge into mathematical conditions and the analysis of the models further constrains the classes. Numerical simulations allow comparing single models out of the model family with available qualitative information on the solutions from observations. The method provides insight into a hierarchical order of the mechanisms. The method is applied to the clinics for liver inflammation such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis or viral hepatitis where reasons for the chronification of disease are still unclear and time- and space-dependent data is unavailable.