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Purpose: Optimal ankle dorsiflexion range of motion plays a vital role in attaining the essential crouched posture necessary for excelling in speed skating. The purpose of this study was to determine how the ankle dorsiflexion angle evolves throughout a day of training and to identify the factors that influence this angle. Methods: Thirty short-track speed skaters, from 2 teams, participated in this study. The maximum ankle dorsiflexion angle was obtained in a lunge position facing a wall, using a digital inclinometer. All measures were obtained 3 times per side, 6 times per day, on 2 training days separated by at least a week. We conducted multiple tests to study the impact of repetition, day, side, team level, sex, and moment on the ankle dorsiflexion angle. Results: The 3 times repeated measures and the 2 days of training did not have a significant influence on the results. There was a statistically significant difference between the first time point of the day and the 5 other time points for both ankles. Moreover, the influence of sex and team level was not statistically significant. Conclusions: The results indicate that there are significant changes in ankle dorsiflexion range of motion but only after the first warm-up of the day. Such findings could enable team staff to enhance athletes' precompetition preparation and tailor ankle mobility training regimens more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in climate in the South Atlantic region and adjacent regions have been described in numerous works using projections from global climate models from CMIP5 and CMIP6. This paper presents an evaluation of the ability of these models to reproduce the atmospheric circulation patterns (weather types) and their seasonal and inter‐annual variability. The analyses are performed based on the probability of occurrence of weather types in the historical period and in future projections. The scatter index and the relative entropy are the statistical parameters used to evaluate the models' performance in the historical period. Future projections consist of RCP2.6, 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios for the CMIP5 models and the SSP126, 245, 370 and 585 scenarios for the CMIP6 and are assessed at different time intervals: short term (2015–2039), mid‐term (2040–2069) and long term (2070–2100). The performance of projections is measured by analysing their consistency, that is, based on the similarity between projections of the same scenario in different models. The results show that the reproduction of the probability of occurrence of historical weather types and their seasonal and interannual variability was better performed by ACCESS1‐0, HadGEM2‐ES, HadGEM2‐CC, CMCC‐CM and MPI‐ESM‐P when assessing the models from CMIP5, and by HadGEM3‐GC31‐MM, ACCESS‐ESM1‐5, ACCESS‐ CM2 and MRI‐ESM‐P when assessing the models from CMIP6. As for future projections, only the BESM‐AO2‐5, GFDL‐ESM4 and HadGEM3‐GC31‐MM models showed inconsistency in one or more scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Precipitation, a crucial component of the Earth system processes, regulates the spatiotemporal cyclicity of water, energy, and carbon fluxes. Accurate precipitation datasets leverage the understanding of precipitation dynamics and are vital for hydro‐climatological studies. South Asian monsoon is a complex, multi‐scale interacting, synoptic, and ocean–land–atmosphere coupled system, contributing to significant spatial and temporal variability in summer monsoonal rainfall across India. This study evaluates four types of gridded (observational, satellite, reanalysis, and hybrid) precipitation products in their ability to replicate Indian Summer Monsoonal Rainfall (ISMR) characteristics using the India Meteorological Department (IMD) 0.25° gridded data as the baseline. A comparative assessment is performed in this study that uses several continuous and interval‐based performance measures to evaluate the overall rainfall magnitude detectability and time‐matched capturing of rainfall events. A new metric, rank score, is developed by aggregating multiple measures to find the best product. The analyses based on several performance measures indicate that MSWEP is the best dataset (rank one) that closely approximates the occurrence and magnitude of IMD‐based rainfall events, while APHRODITE, CHIRPS, and IMDAA are ranked as the next best set of products. PGF is ranked the lowest among all products evaluated and is not recommended for applications. Nonetheless, APHRODITE suffers from strong negative biases, while the reanalysis (IMDAA, ERA5‐Land, PGF) datasets show significant positive biases. Among the products evaluated, APHRODITE, ERA5‐Land, and IMDAA have shown a limited ability to detect excess, normal, and deficit monsoon years, respectively. In general, the performance of satellite‐based data products is superior to that of reanalysis datasets in accurately characterising the monsoon years. ERA5‐Land is noted to be the best‐performing dataset among the reanalysis products. The comprehensive comparative assessment carried out in this study benefits the selection and use of appropriate gridded precipitation products for hydroclimatic modelling, climate variability, and change studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop and test an Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) score for the internal version and total breech extraction of the second twin if in a non‐engaged cephalic position. Materials and Methods: This prospective interventional study took place in a tertiary obstetrics department in France. An objective scoring system was developed, and a standardized simulation scenario was set up. Score evaluation was blinded and analyzed according to group and number of past successful vaginal twin deliveries in real life. A satisfaction evaluation was performed, based on the "Student Design Scale" questionnaire. Results: Simulation was performed on 33 participants in three groups: novice group (15 first‐ and second‐year residents), intermediate group (11 third‐ to sixth‐year residents), and expert group (seven senior obstetricians). The total score obtained by experts was higher than that of the intermediate group (P = 0.001), which was higher than that of the novice group (P < 0.001). In the intermediate group, no correlation was found between OSATS score and number of past successful vaginal twin deliveries. Participants' satisfaction was excellent. Conclusion: The OSATS score developed was reliable and valid to evaluate an internal version and a total breech extraction of the second twin, and to differentiate novice, intermediate, and expert practitioners. Synopsis: This study reports on a resource necessary to assess practitioner performance on internal version and total breech extraction of second twin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the case of the EU-Armenia cooperation on the rule of law and judicial reform, this study contributes to the EaP performance assessment based on the five-element conceptual framework developed by Baltag and Romanyshyn (Int Polit, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41311-023-00475-3). To trace the behaviour of the policy in the context of recent internal and external challenges and characterise its acceptance by multiple stakeholders, two assessment criteria from the conceptual framework were chosen for evaluation: policy relevance and resilience. It is argued that regardless of the significantly increased level of EaP resilience in the period of the EU-Armenia CEPA conclusion and high relevance of the promoted RoL reform in legal and political domains, its low practical relevance led to the policy's underperformance. The transition of power in 2018 strengthened the practical relevance of the RoL reforms and the level of EaP resilience allowed the EU to respond to this change. However, the existence of contestations from inside and outside of the judicial system is still to be addressed in the policy design. Finally, it is suggested that in the progressively complex geopolitical environment, more flexible and adaptable foreign policy can increase the perceived relevance of the EU as a regional actor thus contributing to better EaP performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the theoretical and empirical challenges of assessing performance of the EU's Eastern Partnership policy with a special focus on the future of the policy amidst Russia's war against Ukraine. Based on the contributions to the respective Special Issue the concluding article discusses contemporary developments at the crossroads between EU Studies and the studies of performance, the multi- and interdisciplinary approaches to performance assessment in European Studies, as well as state-of-the-art of the EU's performance in six Eastern Partnership countries. It also dedicates much attention to the implications the policy's performance so far and available evidence about it will have for the reinvention of the Eastern Partnership in the new geopolitical constellations, shaped by Russia's war against Ukraine and the EU's response thereto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian summer monsoon (ISM) is a complex and multiscale interacting climate system, which is responsible for major contribution in India's annual rainfall. Understanding the spatial and temporal variability of ISM rainfall is critical for managing water resources, which directly impact and regulate the functioning of India's socio-economic conditions and subsequently, sustenance of over a billion people. This study evaluates the suitability of various gridded precipitation data products with different spatiotemporal resolutions, essential requirement for hydrologic modeling, disaster mitigation, irrigation allocation and agricultural application. Hence, we evaluate the performance of seven gridded datasets in generating time-matched characteristic event occurrences and their respective magnitudes using gauge-based Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) gridded data as reference. We observe that reanalysis datasets underperform compared to satellite and hybrid products in identifying both normal and extreme precipitation events. We develop a performance measure, called 'rank score' that considers deviations from IMD data in magnitude, statistical moments, and rain event detectability for a robust assessment and identifying best-suited dataset. Results indicate that APHRODITE, MSWEP, and CHIRPS (in descending order) are the most suitable data products across India. Additionally, region-specific evaluations provide valuable insights into the applicability of these datasets in different climatic and homogeneous rainfall zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of JMD: Journal für Mathematik-Didaktik is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Regression, a supervised machine learning approach, establishes relationships between independent variables and a continuous dependent variable. It is widely applied in areas like price prediction and time series forecasting. The performance of regression models is typically assessed using error metrics such as the Mean Squared Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE). However, these metrics present challenges including sensitivity to outliers (notably MSE and RMSE) and scale dependency, which complicates comparisons across different models. Additionally, traditional metrics sometimes yield values that are difficult to interpret across various problems. Consequently, there is a need for a metric that consistently reflects regression model performance, independent of the problem domain, data scale, and outlier presence. To overcome these shortcomings, this paper introduces a new regression accuracy measure based on the Hassanat distance, a non-convex distance metric. This measure is not only invariant to outliers but also easy to interpret as it provides an accuracy-like value that ranges from 0 to 1 (or 0–100%). We validate the proposed metric against traditional measures across multiple benchmarks, demonstrating its robustness under various model scenarios and data types. Hence, we suggest it as a new standard for assessing regression models' accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsea production systems operate in harsh and hostile environments, making them subject to degradation that leads to failure. This is also the case for the final elements of safety-instrumented systems (SISs) that are installed to protect subsea production systems. As a result, the classic SIS performance assessment methods that assume constant failure rates may not be realistic for subsea elements, which may experience both random failures and natural degradation. The location of subsea production also provides challenges for accessing the system to perform repair, and this often results in delays before repair following revealed failures. In this paper, we explore all these issues by developing formulations that incorporate degradation and random failures as well as repair delays to assess the performance of the system. The degradation of the system is modeled with the Weibull distribution, while an exponential distribution is used to model the random failures. The impacts of different maintenance strategies on safety are also explored with case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Nigeria, where rainfall plays a pivotal role in agriculture and disaster management, assessing the accuracy of satellite rainfall estimates at various thresholds is imperative. This study assesses the areal averages of nine satellite precipitation estimates (SPEs) against 48 ground-based raingauge observations in Nigeria. Employing categorical statistical metrics and compromise programming, the research assesses the performance of SPEs at seven rainfall thresholds. Results reveal that 82–94% of rainfall estimates align with ground truth, while 5–14% of rainy days are incorrectly detected by raingauges. Notably, SPEs tend to overestimate low rain between 1 mm and 5 mm d−1 and underestimate low heavy rain rates (10 mm ≤ rain < 20 mm), impacting flood monitoring and disaster preparedness. Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (CPCC), Tropical Applications of Meteorology using SATellite and ground-based observations (TAMSAT) African Rainfall Climatology And Time series (TARCAT), and Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) emerge as more reliable SPEs, particularly in highland regions. This research underscores the importance of choosing appropriate satellite precipitation estimates for enhanced disaster preparedness and resource management across different Nigerian regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

System-on-chip designs for high-performance computing systems widely use network-on-chip (NoC) technology. The critical metrics such as latency, throughput, and total energy directly impact the performance of NoCs. However, a cycle-accurate simulator takes considerable execution time for different values of packet injection rate. This paper proposes a machine learning approach with various regression models to predict the essential NoC performance metrics. The work explores regression models, including decision trees, K-nearest neighbors, random forest, polynomial regression, and support vector regression, alongside baseline linear regression for 2D and 3D NoC-based architectures. Experiment results demonstrate high accuracy, ranging from 96.72 to 99.96% for 2D and up to 99.99% for 3D NoC-based architectures. Root-mean-squared error values vary from 0.2792 to 0.03143 for 2D NoC and 0.1857 to 0.0063 for 3D NoC architecture. The proposed framework achieves impressive speedup, reaching up to 4678.8X and 46152.8X for system sizes 8 × 8 × 4 and 10 × 10 × 20, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainwater penetration into building facades results in multiple issues, including material and structural degradation, reduced energy efficiency, and health-related concerns among occupants. Currently, the watertightness performance of building facades is assessed based on standardized tests, which simulate generic water supplies and pressure differentials that do not reflect the specific exposure conditions of each facade. Consequently, practitioners' decisions regarding facade design often rely on qualitative and imprecise criteria that do not align with the actual climatic loads. In this article, a comprehensive approach to facade design for preventing rainwater penetration is described, incorporating specific methodological refinements for reliable and practical implementation across various Spanish regions. In this approach, the parameters surpassed during any watertightness test (defined by the magnitude and duration of the water supplies and pressure differentials) are correlated with the recurrence of equivalent climatic exposures at the facade (determined by the climatic conditions of the site, facade height, and surrounding environment), thereby quantitatively characterizing the facade watertightness performance. The findings used to refine this method for implementation in Spain are illustrated and validated using selected case studies, and a comprehensive database is provided to enable its application at 360 locations distributed across various regions of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of the studies in the past on the dust make in heading face were focused on dust transport law and treatment methods. However, there were few studies focused on the dust make mechanism and controllable indexes. Given this, the dust make mechanism and influencing factors of rock cutting using roadheaders were analyzed in detail based on the rock cutting mechanism using conical picks, and influencing factors were classified into two categories: static factors and dynamic factors. Static factors include the cone angle of picks, the attack angle and cutting speed, etc. Dynamic factors include picks wear and the change of cutting depth. The cutting depth is an important controllable dynamic factor on dust make in the process of rock cutting. It is found that dust make is also closely related with the specific cutting energy. The effects of cutting depth on dust make and specific cutting energy were then studied in detail. The results indicate that the effect laws of cutting depth on dust make and specific cutting energy are extremely similar, namely they all decrease in power function with the increase of cutting depth. Based on this, the rationality of making the rock breaking performance indexes of roadheaders at 9 mm cutting depth was discussed, it is the reasonable boundary to control dust make and energy requirement. The rock hardness indexes to evaluate roadheaders rock breaking ability may be expressed using compressive strength and specific cutting energy of the rock, whose mathematic models were established based on the mean cutting depth of roadheaders. Finally, the models of this study were applied in two engineering examples, and the results indicate that the models could be used to predict the rock breaking ability of roadheaders reasonably, and to predict their production rate satisfactorily. The conclusions of this study can provide theoretical supports for design, model selection and field application of roadheaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Petroleum Geology & Recovery Efficiency is the property of Petroleum Geology & Recovery Efficiency and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This review provides a comprehensive examination of CFD modeling procedures for SCPP, with an emphasis on the detailed methodologies and a case study of the Manzanares prototype in Spain. The introduction delineates the historical context and physical modeling principles of solar chimneys, while highlighting their potential in industrial applications. The governing equations are meticulously discussed, covering assumptions in both 2D and 3D CFD modeling, the continuity and momentum equations, and the selection and accuracy of turbulence models, particularly the k- ε equations. The review also delves into heat transfer modeling, encompassing the energy equation and radiation modeling. Analytical evaluations of turbine pressure drop ratios and performance metrics for power generation efficiency are critically analyzed. The establishment of boundary conditions in solar chimney applications, including sky temperature assessments and distinctions between 2D and 3D boundary conditions, is extensively explored. Mesh generation techniques for both 2D and 3D CFD models are presented, supported by case studies. Parametric studies and experimental investigations are scrutinized to elucidate their impact on the performance of solar chimneys. The temperature–entropy diagram for an idealized Brayton cycle is introduced as a conceptual framework for efficiency analysis. Validation of the CFD codes, both 2D and 3D, against experimental data is performed to ensure model accuracy. The review further examines energy balance approaches in modeling solar chimneys, presenting state-of-the-art CFD results and discussing their implications in both 2D and 3D contexts. The synthesis of these findings culminates in a comprehensive conclusion, offering insights into the future directions and potential advancements in the CFD modeling of solar chimneys. This work aims to serve as a definitive reference for researchers and practitioners in the field, providing a robust foundation for the development and optimization of SCPP technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tubular solid oxide fuel cells (TSOFCs) generate high-grade waste heat during operation, but the existing waste heat recovery technologies designed for flat solid oxide fuel cells cannot be directly applied to TSOFC due to the geometry mismatch. To efficient harvest the waste heat, a new geometry-matching hybrid system including TSOFC and annular thermoelectric generator (ATEG) is synergistically integrated to evaluate the performance upper limit. A mathematical model is formulated and verified to describe the hybrid system by considering various thermodynamic-electrochemical irreversible effects. Key performance indicators are established to assess the potential performance. Calculations show that the peak power density and corresponding efficiency of the proposed system are enhanced by 20.39 % and 13.89 %, respectively, compared to a standalone TSOFC. Furthermore, the exergy destruction rate is reduced by 7.04 %. Extensive sensitivity analyses indicate that higher operating temperatures enhance the system’s performance, while larger electrode tortuosity negatively affects it. Additionally, various optimization paths of ATEG are explored to improve the system performance, including considerations such as the number of thermocouples, leg radial width, leg thickness, or annular shape parameter. The three-objective optimization yields an efficient design solution for the entire system, offering valuable insights for its design and operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The turbulent airflow in a rectangular channel with two porous vertical baffles of 25%, 50%, and 75% porosity is investigated using the finite volume method and Fluent software. The k-ε turbulence model analyzes turbulence dynamics, adjusting boundary conditions for varying inlet velocities. Key parameters, including turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), dynamic pressure (DP), temperature variation (T), friction coefficient (Cf), Nusselt number (Nu), and thermal enhancement factor (TEF) are evaluated at Reynolds numbers of 28,000 and 56,000. Findings indicate that at a Reynolds number of 28,000, the 25% porous ratio maximizes energy transfer, while the friction coefficient peaks at the same ratio for a Reynolds number of 56,000. Notably, the TEF reaches 1.4 at a 75% porous ratio for a Reynolds number of 28,000. This research uniquely demonstrates the pronounced impact of porous baffles on heat transfer and friction under different Reynolds numbers, particularly highlighting the significance of baffle porosity in lower Reynolds number regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although scholars have discussed in depth about the evaluation content and the construction of evaluation index system of emergency management and crisis management, a unified and standardized interpretation of system construction concepts and empirical research on the performance evaluation of urban emergency management is still lacking. In view of this, this paper is based on the theory of the crisis life cycle, with the four phases of urban emergency management and the content of the task as a clue, constructed a performance evaluation index system containing 12 primary indicators and 44 secondary indicators, and centered on the emergency management work situation of S city. The study reveals that emergency management underperforms in S city, with a score of 5.948, qualifying as the "defined level". The "prevention and preparedness stage" receives poor evaluation, indicating a significant bias for crisis response instead of prevention. The report suggests the improvement of emergency material stockpile planning, the formation of grassroots emergency response teams, the emergency management publicity, and special emergency drill plans, etc., with a view to providing reference for city managers to comprehensively review and evaluate the emergency management system, and to promote the construction of a more systematic, complete and scientific urban emergency management system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Misr Journal of Agricultural Engineering is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Inverse Data Envelopment Analysis (IDEA) has gained significant attention among researchers as an analytical tool for assessing efficiency. Estimating input values while ensuring cost efficiency through changes in output quantities is complex and sensitive. In contrast to conventional data envelopment analysis methods, IDEA enables the quantification of input/output variations resulting from output/input reductions or expansions while preserving the measurement efficiency level. This paper aims to introduce a novel approach for estimating input values by incrementally increasing the value of each output of decision-making units (DMUs) during the evaluation process, thereby maintaining or improving cost efficiency. By utilizing IDEA and manipulating the output values of the DMU under evaluation, the input values are estimated while ensuring constant or enhanced cost efficiency. A simple numerical example and a case study from a Turkish automotive company are presented to validate the proposed method. The obtained results demonstrate significant improvements and hold promising prospects, indicating the potential applicability of this approach to other similar problems and research areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the challenges of low injection capacity， low fluid recovery rate， and low recovery in the water flooding development of low-permeability reservoirs in Shengli Oilfield， this paper proposed an oil displacement technology with new amine-ether gemini surfactants. The molecular structure was designed on the new amine-ether gemini surfactant for oil displacement， and the interfacial properties of different molecular structures were evaluated. The sample G-3 with the best interfacial properties was selected， and the emulsification and oil displacement performance were evaluated at different concentrations. The oil displacement mechanism was elucidated by combining micro etched glass models. The experimental results showed that the new amine-ether gemini surfactant with a concentration of 0.2% can reduce the interfacial tension between oil and water to 0.003 9 mN/m， forming the stable emulsion with crude oil， and the particle size of lotion drops is 12 μm. For the postflood core with a permeability of 6.966 mD， the G-3 solution of the new amine-ether gemini surfactant with a concentration of 0.2% is injected at 0.5 PV， and the recovery can increase by 9.6% and the pressure reduces by 17.4% after water flooding again. The micro oil displacement mechanisms are the reduction of the interfacial tension between oil and water and the residual oil emulsification and coalescence. A field test was conducted in the low-permeability block of Shengli Oilfield. After implementation， the injection capacity of the water wells in the block was doubled. The daily oil production of the oil wells was 5.7 t/d， and the water cut decreased by 11.0%. Up to June 2023， the cumulative oil production in the block had been 1 791 t， achieving good development effect.

Abstract Ecosystem services (ESs), the benefits nature provides to people, are an important basis for fulfilling sustainable development goals (SDGs). Therefore, an ES-based approach will help deepen our understanding of the relationships between natural systems and human well-being and provide co-benefit pathways for sustainable development. However, monitoring progress towards achieving the SDGs based on the contributions of ESs to SDGs is lacking. Using the linkages between ESs and SDGs, this study quantified progress towards the SDGs in China from 2000 to 2020 and determined future development priorities at both the national and provincial levels. Our results indicated that (1) during the period 2000–2020, China showed decreasing trends in the 11 SDGs and SDG index scores; (2) there were significant differences in the scores for SDGs and the SDG index across 31 provinces; (3) SDG 3, SDG6, SDG11, SDG13, and SDG15 were recognized as the highest national priorities, concerning health and environment; and (4) 31 provinces faced diverse economic, social, and environmental development challenges. The ES-based approach may assist policy-makers in monitoring and comparing progress towards the SDGs in an integrated and composite way, prioritizing local action, and providing a scientific basis for formulating policies to achieve SDG implementation.

Abstract The Indian summer monsoon (ISM) is a complex and multiscale interacting climate system, which is responsible for major contribution in India’s annual rainfall. Understanding the spatial and temporal variability of ISM rainfall is critical for managing water resources, which directly impact and regulate the functioning of India’s socio-economic conditions and subsequently, sustenance of over a billion people. This study evaluates the suitability of various gridded precipitation data products with different spatiotemporal resolutions, essential requirement for hydrologic modeling, disaster mitigation, irrigation allocation and agricultural application. Hence, we evaluate the performance of seven gridded datasets in generating time-matched characteristic event occurrences and their respective magnitudes using gauge-based Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) gridded data as reference. We observe that reanalysis datasets underperform compared to satellite and hybrid products in identifying both normal and extreme precipitation events. We develop a performance measure, called ‘rank score’ that considers deviations from IMD data in magnitude, statistical moments, and rain event detectability for a robust assessment and identifying best-suited dataset. Results indicate that APHRODITE, MSWEP, and CHIRPS (in descending order) are the most suitable data products across India. Additionally, region-specific evaluations provide valuable insights into the applicability of these datasets in different climatic and homogeneous rainfall zones.

The study develops and specifies the approach previously proposed by the authors to the creation of a system for the evaluation of the effectiveness of research and technological activities in the Russian Federation. This system would serve as a foundation for monitoring scientific and technological progress in Russia and its regions, as well as R&D subjects and other elements of the science and innovation sphere. The authors identify the potential of this system to ensure the protection of the Russia’s domestic research and technological sector against unauthorized transfer of R&D results to foreign countries. It would also ensure compliance with secrecy and confidentiality regulations and provide additional opportunities for efficient public management of R&D sphere based on R&D performance data. The purpose of this study is to explore the potential use of the data provided by the system in addressing the most significant challenges facing the domestic science and technology sector in terms of safety and security, as well as protection against various threats. Additionally, we aim to contribute to the scientific, technological, and socio-economic development of Russia through the use of this system. In our analysis, we have applied principles from science and technology theories and strategies for scientific and technological advancement in Russia. We have also used verbal modeling approaches to analyze the potential impact of the system on the sector. Furthermore, we discuss potential additional measures that could be taken to enhance the effectiveness of the system, such as involving different stakeholders in the research and development process to ensure a more comprehensive approach.

Copyright of International Journal of Engineering Transactions C: Aspects is the property of International Journal of Engineering (IJE) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction. In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been a rapidly advancing field. In all areas of UAV application, positioning accuracy is of particular importance. For outdoor environments, satellite navigation systems (such as GPS) are always the method of choice. However, for indoor environments, GPS signal weakening becomes a serious obstacle for determining the UAV location. A number of studies have been carried out to develop various indoor positioning technologies that meet the criteria of compactness and light weight, thus suitable for small aircrafts, including optical flows, inertial measurement systems, ultrasound, etc. However, there is a lack of comparative studies reviewing indoor positioning technologies for autonomous UAVs. The existing reviews fail to provide a comprehensive assessment of such technologies and their operational principles according to the main criteria. In this connection, this paper aims to review modern indoor positioning technologies and their operational principles, conducting evaluation according to such criteria as accuracy, operating range, cost. The assessment of promising machine vision-based technologies is carried out.Aim. To classify modern indoor navigation technologies for UAVs; to assess the technologies under consideration according to various criteria.Materials and methods. The current technologies for UAV indoor positioning were classified by the signal type used for connection and their capability to process information without external signals. The technologies were assessed according to the following criteria: accuracy, operating range, cost, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.Results. А classification and evaluation table of UAV indoor positioning technologies is proposed; a review of the current developments in the field is given.Conclusion. A review of UAV indoor positioning technologies has been carried out. In addition, the prospects of machine vision-based technologies are outlined.

The Council of Ministers has approved Royal Decree-Law 6/2023, of December 19, approving urgent measures for the implementation of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan in the areas of public service of justice, civil service, local regime and patronage. Among the matters addressed, many of them were already part of the Bill on the Civil Service Law of the State Administration, which was eventually not passed because of the Spanish elections of July 2023. Thus, in the present paper we examine the reform of the civil service brought about this royal decree-law. In particular, the royal decree-law renews the planning, organization and strategic management of human resources and reinforces transparency, streamlines selection processes and regulates and regulates the performance assessment of public employees, their professionalcareer and professional public management. It also updates the ranges of civil servant levels and introduces procedural changes aimed at promoting the use of electronic media and hastening the procedures involved in the administrative litigation process in civil service matters, as well as seeking the right to defense of public employees.

Abstract Background The administration of performance assessments during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic posed many challenges, especially for examinations employed as part of certification and licensure. The National Assessment Collaboration (NAC) Examination, an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), was modified during the pandemic. The purpose of this study was to gather evidence to support the reliability and validity of the modified NAC Examination. Methods The modified NAC Examination was delivered to 2,433 candidates in 2020 and 2021. Cronbach’s alpha, decision consistency, and accuracy values were calculated. Validity evidence includes comparisons of scores and sub-scores for demographic groups: gender (male vs. female), type of International Medical Graduate (IMG) (Canadians Studying Abroad (CSA) vs. non-CSA), postgraduate training (PGT) (no PGT vs. PGT), and language of examination (English vs. French). Criterion relationships were summarized using correlations within and between the NAC Examination and the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) Part I scores. Results Reliability estimates were consistent with other OSCEs similar in length and previous NAC Examination administrations. Both total score and sub-score differences for gender were statistically significant. Total score differences by type of IMG and PGT were not statistically significant, but sub-score differences were statistically significant. Administration language was not statistically significant for either the total scores or sub-scores. Correlations were all statistically significant with some relationships being small or moderate (0.20 to 0.40) or large (> 0.40). Conclusions The NAC Examination yields reliable total scores and pass/fail decisions. Expected differences in total scores and sub-scores for defined groups were consistent with previous literature, and internal relationships amongst NAC Examination sub-scores and their external relationships with the MCCQE Part I supported both discriminant and criterion-related validity arguments. Modifications to OSCEs to address health restrictions can be implemented without compromising the overall quality of the assessment. This study outlines some of the validity and reliability analyses for OSCEs that required modifications due to COVID.

In routine Generalizability Theory (G-theory) research, the task of establishing or assessing cut-off scores for performance evaluation is consistently sought after yet simultaneously poses significant challenges. While many studies have presented diverse indices to evaluate potential cut-off scores, these indices are frequently limited by their design-specific nature, limiting adaptability across different assessment contexts. This paper reframes G-theory within the context of a Linear Mixed-Effects Model (LMM) and employs LMM-based bootstrapping techniques to generate Intervals of Predicted Total Scores (IPTS) for each individual to evaluate the suitability of potential cut-off score candidates in the assessment. We propose PredC, to quantify the proportion of individuals whose 95% IPTS encompass a given candidate value of interest, thereby gauging the appropriateness of different cut-off choices. A lower PredC is deemed preferable since it signifies that the corresponding cut-off score effectively discriminates between individuals, categorizing them into distinct groups (e.g., pass or fail). The study comprises two parts: Firstly, a Monte Carlo simulation study was carried out to compare the performance of three distinct techniques—parametric, semiparametric, and nonparametric bootstrapping—in constructing IPTS. The second part applied a genuine dataset to illustrate the practical implementation of our proposed methodology. The simulation findings revealed that the distribution of scores greatly influences the efficacy of IPTS, with semiparametric and nonparametric bootstraps being the preferred methods in situations involving ordinal data points, as was the case in the real-world dataset. When assessing cut-off scores, the PredC serves as a valuable complement to the existing suite of quantitative tools, thereby contributing to enhanced standard-setting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution explores empirical associations between general pedagogical knowledge (GPK), communication skills, and grades in initial teacher education. We assessed the GPK and communication skills of 105 student teachers in Germany, using a knowledge test and a performance-based assessment. Empirical results show a significant correlation between GPK and grades but not between communication skills and grades. GPK is associated with the number of semesters, while communication skills are associated with age. We discuss the learning objectives of initial teacher education in higher education in the light of our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel comprehensive resilience assessment framework for drinking water systems is proposed integrating different resilience perspectives (i.e., robustness, autonomy, flexibility, reliability, preparedness and recovery), oriented by objectives, criteria and metrics, applicable at the tactical level. The resilience assessment framework is applied to a Portuguese real water distribution network, enabling the evaluation of the system's resilience. The infrastructure dimension is the main contributor to the low resilience results, particularly in terms of infrastructural robustness, as the infrastructure has exceeded the average service life and has low rehabilitation rates. In terms of autonomy, the system highly depends on external water and energy sources. Regarding the service dimension, most of the drinking water available is used for non-potable uses (e.g., irrigation), without alternative sources. The detailed diagnosis identified network area R6 as the priority area. Assets rehabilitation, increasing storage capacity, finding alternative water and energy sources, and minimizing non-potable uses are relevant improvement measures that promote the reinforcement of the system's resilience. The resilience assessment framework is a very useful tool for the daily and tactical management of drinking water systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackground: Hospitals make up the main cost factor of health systems and also face increasing pressure to improve efficiency. Improving the performance of hospitals, which are vital for public health, is very important for developing countries such as Turkey. Aims: We conducted this study to assess the performance of 544 secondary-level public hospitals in Turkey by geographical region. Methods: In the study, we used the entropy weighting method to obtain the objective weights of indicators with the evaluation criteria, and then we utilized the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method to rank the performance of hospitals by geographical region. Results: The comparison of hospital performances by geographical region indicated that the highest and the lowest mean scores belonged to the Mediterranean Region and the Eastern Anatolia Region, respectively. Conclusions: The socio-economic differences between geographical regions in Turkey were in parallel with the findings of the study. Although there is a need for professional management in resource allocation and use to improve the performance of public hospitals, it is necessary to focus on the origin of the problems first. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is critical to analyse and evaluate elementary school students' scientific inquiry skills to promote inquiry-based teaching and learning and to develop students' scientific inquiry skills. Compared with the analysis of students' scientific inquiry skills based on paper and pen tests and classroom teaching videos, the direct analysis of primary school students' video works on the scientific inquiry can more intuitively and comprehensively reflect students' actual scientific inquiry ability. Purpose: This study aims to analyse scientific inquiry abilities of students in Chinese elementary school through video works and to reflect students' scientific inquiry abilities authentically and comprehensively by using performance assessment. Sample: 32 high-integrity physics videos on material science topics were further evaluated for analysis. Design and Methods: The study proposed the analytical framework of students' scientific inquiry skills combined with the existing research, and the content analysis of the participating videos was carried out accordingly, which realized the performance assessment of students' scientific inquiry skills. Results: Only 40.59%entries had completed elements of scientific inquiry. The scores for hypothesis making and reflection evaluation were 1.37 and 1.71, which were relatively complex and showed that students' performance was weak. The highest scores for the ability to inquire and the view of scientific inquiry were gotten by the students in grade 4 and no outstanding performance was shown by the students in grade 6. Conclusion: First, the lowest level of scientific inquiry was found in making hypotheses and reflective evaluation performance. Second, students' scientific inquiry skills did't show a dominant correlation with grade, and students' inquiry skills don't necessarily increase naturally with increased knowledge and skills. In addition, the degree of openness to inquiry did not fully characterize students' inquiry skills. Finally, students with a more systematic view of scientific inquiry had relatively higher inquiry skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) systems using ionizing radiation may increase the risk of secondary cancer and normal tissue toxicity due to additional radiation exposure caused by large field sizes or repeated scans during X-ray imaging. As an alternative to these modalities, surface-guided radiotherapy (SGRT) systems which do not employ ionizing radiation have been developed. This study presents a comprehensive performance evaluation of the Varian Identify SGRT system by using an anthropomorphic Alderson Rando phantom in three different aspects: (a) the accuracy and reproducibility of the system in different regions of interest (ROI) for varying couch displacements, (b) the setup accuracy of the system for patient positioning based on different computed tomography (CT) slice thicknesses, and (c) the potential influence of obstructing SGRT cameras by the gantry on the system's overall accuracy and reproducibility. The accuracy and reproducibility of the SGRT system fell within 1 mm and 1°. Nevertheless, in certain situations, these values were observed to exceed prescribed limits. Consequently, concerning SGRT tolerance limits for treatment applications, careful consideration of ROIs and offset values of the system is crucial. We also recommend that patients should ideally be set up during 0° gantry rotation, and the on-board imaging (OBI) system should be retracted to prevent obstruction of the cameras. Additionally, reference CT images with a slice thickness of under 3 mm are recommended for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates whether family owners consider the stages of CEO tenure in their use of firm performance to assess CEOs. Integrating insights on family owners' long-term orientation and stages of CEO tenure, we theorize that family owners rely more on firm performance to make CEO replacement decisions during the mid-stage of CEO tenure than during the early and late stages. Moreover, we predict that they hold nonfamily CEOs more accountable for firm performance than family CEOs only during the mid-stage of CEO tenure. Using data from family-controlled firms in Taiwan, we found empirical evidence supportive of our theoretical predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridges, as vital infrastructure, require ongoing monitoring to maintain safety and functionality. This study introduces an innovative algorithm that refines bridge component performance assessment through the integration of modified K-means clustering, silhouette coefficient optimization, and cloud model theory. The purpose is to provide a reliable method for monitoring the safety and serviceability of critical infrastructure, particularly double-layer truss arch bridges. The algorithm processes large datasets to identify patterns and manage uncertainties in structural health monitoring (SHM). It includes field monitoring techniques and a model-driven approach for establishing assessment thresholds. The main findings, validated by case studies, show the algorithm's effectiveness in enhancing clustering quality and accurately evaluating bridge performance using multiple indicators, such as statistical significance, cluster centroids, average silhouette coefficient, Davies–Bouldin index, average deviation, and Sign-Rank test p-values. The conclusions highlight the algorithm's utility in assessing structural integrity and aiding data-driven maintenance decisions, offering scientific support for bridge preservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the use of external proficiency‐based tests to measure learners' language ability has increased significantly, in part thanks to the Seal of Biliteracy movement. However, there exists very limited research investigating the influence of such tests and their subsequent outcomes data on teachers' practices. As such, this study examines the washback effects of the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) on teachers' instruction and planning in an urban Midwest K‐12 district. Survey and interview data revealed that teachers increased their use of ACTFL key documents, placed more emphasis on target language usage, and sought to balance their use of the three modes of communication to better meet learners' needs and facilitate their proficiency development. This evidence of positive washback was observed among teachers across languages and levels and was enhanced by the opt‐in approach to test implementation and the close link between testing and teaching. For some, the AAPPL served as a catalyst to further align their curricula and instruction. Recommendations are offered for those who may wish to implement a standards‐based external language assessment such as the AAPPL as a means by which to foster professional growth and promote teachers' adoption of proficiency‐oriented practices. The Challenge: By design, the AAPPL is intended to positively impact language teaching and learning. Is this indeed the case? If so, how does AAPPL implementation and student outcomes data influence K‐12 teachers' curricular planning and instruction? What factors mediate this influence? How does using the AAPPL benefit teachers' professional practice? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish more efficient and equitable education systems for students, increasing importance has been attached to the efficient usage of educational resources and the evaluation of students' success in education. Until recently, studies that focus on efficiency assessment in education have generally employed conventional data envelopment analysis (DEA) models that enable each country to specify its most favorable set of factor weights, and thus may yield an impractical weighting scheme as well as poor discriminatory characteristics for evaluation purposes. This study assesses education efficiency of OECD countries through implementing common-weight DEA-based models and using the PISA 2018 database. The results obtained by conventional DEA and common-weight DEA-based models are comparatively evaluated with regard to rankings as well as dispersions of input and output weights. Although conventional DEA determines ten countries as efficient, most of the common-weight DEA-based models employed herein yield full ranking. In vast majority of these approaches, Estonia and Finland are found to be the best performing countries. Rank reversal phenomenon in these models is also addressed and a weighted aggregate ranking index incorporating the rank reversal issue is developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article evaluates the performance of a 20 MW grid-connected photovoltaic system installed in the Naama region, southwestern highlands of Algeria. The production database used in this work was recorded between January 1, 2017, and December 2022, from the plant's SCADA system. During the first 5 years of production, the final yield varied from 3.88 in winter 2020 to 6.30 h/day in summer 2017, while the reference yield varied from 4.45 to 7.05 h/day, the annual average performance ratio is equal to 83.35%, and the annual average capacity factor was found to be 20.05% for the monitored period. These data are then compared with the predicted outcomes by a detailed difference analysis using three widely used PV simulation tools: PVsyst, SAM, and PVSol. Results indicate that the actual data strongly coincide with those predicted by the PVsyst simulation, as confirmed by statistical indices. However, the degradation of the PV plants over the monitored period is quantified using a linear model and a CSD model and is estimated at −1.43 and −1.55 %/year, respectively. In summary, the photovoltaic system performance indices obtained are satisfactory compared to large-scale photovoltaic systems reported in other studies. Practical applications: This study evaluates the performance and degradation of a 20 MWp photovoltaic system located in the highlands of Algeria. The results of this article will serve as a baseline for the future construction of PV plants to raise awareness among decision-makers about the beginnings of the deterioration of installations to allocate a budget for the maintenance and operation of these installations. The findings of this study have the potential to contribute to the wider adoption of Photovoltaic systems as a viable alternative to traditional energy in Algeria and especially in the Highlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes and validates a novel combustion control system for oil-fired boilers aimed at reducing air pollutant emissions through flame image prediction. The proposed system is easily applicable to existing ships. Traditional proportional combustion control systems supply fuel and air at fixed ratios according to the set steam load, without considering the emission of air pollutants. To address this, a stable and immediate control system is proposed, which adjusts the air supply to modify the combustion state. The combustion control system utilizes oxygen concentration predictions from flame images via SEF+SVM as control inputs and applies internal model control (IMC)-based proportional-integral (PI) control for real-time combustion control. Due to the complexity of modeling the image-based system, IMC filter constant tuning through experimentation is essential for achieving effective control performance. Experimental results showed that optimal control performance was achieved when the filter constant λ was set to 1.5. In this scenario, the peak overshoot M p was reduced to 0.19245, and the Integral of Squared Error (ISE) was minimized to 10.1159, ensuring a stable response with minimal oscillation and maintaining a fast response speed. The results demonstrate the potential of the proposed system to improve combustion efficiency and reduce emissions of air pollutants. This study provides a feasible and effective solution for enhancing the environmental performance of marine oil-fired boilers. Given its ease of application to existing ships, it is expected to contribute to sustainable air pollution reduction across the maritime environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the application of Universal Design (UD) principles to university environments, aiming to improve the experiences of students and staff by fostering inclusivity in educational and social spaces. The research began with a literature review and employed the 'Design for All A.U.D.I.T.' tool, developed by Politecnico di Milano. This tool was adapted to evaluate six buildings across two universities in Milan: Politecnico di Milano and Statale University. The buildings ranged from the most recent to medium-aged and the oldest on each campus. The assessment focused on three main categories--physical, social, and sensory-cognitive quality--across eight key areas, including outdoor environments, entrances, halls, horizontal and vertical circulation, restrooms, classrooms, and study/leisure spaces. A binary scoring system was used to calculate the satisfaction of requirements, previously weighted by experts. The evaluation revealed that newer buildings generally scored higher on average (77%) compared to those from the 1960s (62%) and historical ones (67%). Despite higher scores, newer constructions often prioritized educational spaces over social and leisure areas, resulting in a lack of student gathering spaces. Significant issues included poor entrance design, inadequate wayfinding strategies, and a lack of inclusive classroom features, although restroom facilities consistently demonstrated good accessibility. The most recent building at Politecnico di Milano scored highest overall but struggled in leisure and study rooms, as did the new building at Statale University. This research highlights both the current state and potential for improvement in university architecture through the lens of UD. The study underscores that innovative design does not always equate to user satisfaction and provides an objective tool to aid decision-makers in enhancing the accessibility and inclusivity of university spaces, ultimately improving the well-being of all users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concept mapping is widely used as a tool for assessing students' understanding of science. To fully realize the diagnostic potential of concept mapping, a scoring method that not only provides an objective and accurate assessment of students' drawn concept maps but also provides a detailed understanding of students' proficiency and deficiencies in knowledge is necessary. However, few of the existing scoring methods focus on the latent constructs (e.g., knowledge, skills, and cognitive processes) that guide the creation of concept maps. Instead, they focus on the completeness of the concept map by assigning a composite score, which makes it difficult to generate targeted diagnostic feedback information for advancing students' learning. To apply the diagnostic classification model to the quantitative analysis of concept maps, this study introduced the novel application of the item expansion‐based diagnostic classification analysis (IE‐DCA) for this purpose. The IE‐DCA can not only assess students' concept mapping abilities along a continuum but also classify students according to their concept mapping attributes when constructing the concept maps. The application and benefits of this approach were illustrated using a physics concept‐mapping item related to particle and rigid body. Results showed that the estimated attribute profiles via the IE‐DCA provided more detailed information about students' latent constructs than the composite score. Overall, this study illustrates the feasibility and potential of applying IE‐DCA to analyze concept maps. Future applications of IE‐DCS in other assessments in science education are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To passively achieve an inertial device with unidirectional force transmission similar to Bang Bang control, this study introduces a novel energy dissipation device known as the resettable‐inertia damper (RID). The ingenious motion principles of the RID, encompassing a rack‐and‐pinion, bevel gear commutation system, speed transmission, and eddy current damping, are elucidated in detail. In particular, a unidirectional rotational flywheel within the device selectively engages when the primary structure reciprocates. The physical mass of the flywheel undergoes conversion into an amplified inertia through the rack‐and‐pinion mechanism, which enables the enhancement of damping effects coupling the flywheel rotation and eddy current configuration. A coupled multibody dynamic model, combining the clutching effect, the flywheel inertia, and the rotational damping, is formulated to analyze the system with RID (RIDS). Currently, an analysis of the hysteretic behaviors of RID is carried out. To facilitate the design and evaluation of the performance of RIDS, an equivalent linearization method is proposed for RIDS. The feasibility of this simplified method is validated under harmonic excitation. Additionally, the study examines the performance of equivalent linear systems (ELSs) and RIDS under natural ground motions and stochastic stationary excitation in peak and variance responses levels, respectively. Comparison of RID with traditional inerter shows that RID can achieve a more pronounced control with less force transferred to the structure and with the potential to recover vibration energy, highlighting its unique advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automation in the manufacturing of electronic products and devices has been increasingly implemented in the last decades, to cope with the growing demand for mass emerging products. However, some niches still exhibit a large room for improvement. Considering flexible electronics production, this work addresses the assembly of film coverlays, which is still conducted manually, mainly due to the technological challenges related to the manipulation of film-based components and the removal of the film protecting the adhesive layer, along with the extreme variability of their shape and dimension. These issues result in stressful and troublesome tasks for the operator, besides preventing the full digitalization of the production process. A multifunctional gripper is presented as the core device to enable assembly automation. The study concerns the full gripper development, from the analysis of requirements and concept definition to design, prototyping and testing. The device was tested installed on a robot arm, demonstrating full reliability for the completion of all assembly process tasks. Moreover, the assessment of positioning performance confirms the fulfilment of process requirements, still providing insights for slight improvements. The gripper represents a scalable solution for the automated assembly of film-based coverlays, ready for validation in industrial settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Equestrian sports have evolved beyond traditional disciplines, embracing specialised events that showcase breed-specific abilities. The Criollo horse breed, a product of centuries of genetic refinement, stands out in South America and internationally, particularly in events like the Freio de Ouro. This competition highlights the breed's versatility and skills, emphasising manoeuvres like the esbarrada and volta sobre patas, which demonstrate agility, coordination, and balance. Despite the breed's success, there is a lack of quantitative kinematic studies on these manoeuvres and their relation to horse morphology. Our study aims to fill this gap by using kinematics to analyse the esbarrada and volta sobre patas, exploring any connections between static goniometry and manoeuvre dynamics. Understanding these movements not only enhances our appreciation of equine biomechanics but also informs breeding and training practices, ultimately benefiting both horses and riders in various equestrian disciplines. The esbarrada and volta sobre patas manoeuvres are critical in Criollo horse equestrian activities, yet their kinematics remain largely unexplored. This observational study aimed to kinematically describe the manoeuvres in Criollo breed horses and explore the relationship between static goniometry and dynamics. A 2D kinematic analysis was conducted on 31 Criollo horses performing the manoeuvres using high-speed cameras. Joint angles were measured using static goniometry and analysed in relation to dynamic performance. The esbarrada covered a distance of 4.28 ± 0.99 m in 1.15 ± 0.11 s at a velocity of 3.77 ± 0.55 m/s. Joint angles showed a mean fetlock extension of 75.4° ± 5.3° and hock flexion of 43.2° ± 4.1°. In the volta sobre patas, significant differences were found in turn duration (first: 0.96 ± 0.07 s, second: 1.12 ± 0.09 s, p = 0.03) and thoracic limb suspension (first: 0.23 ± 0.02 s, second: 0.28 ± 0.03 s, p = 0.02). Static goniometry indicated that limb conformation did not significantly correlate with protraction angles during the esbarrada (p = 0.27). The volta sobre patas demonstrated prolonged duration and increased thoracic limb suspension in the second turn. Also, the findings suggest that static conformation does not predict dynamic limb movement during the esbarrada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The systematic literature review (1) investigates whether 'serious games' provide a viable solution to the limitations posed by traditional high-stakes performance assessments and (2) aims to synthesize game design principles for the game-based performance assessment of professional competencies. In total, 56 publications were included in the final review, targeting knowledge, motor skills and cognitive skills and further narrowed down to teaching, training or assessing professional competencies. Our review demonstrates that serious games are able to provide an environment and task authentic to the target competency. Collected in-game behaviors indicate that serious games are able to elicit behavior that is related to a candidates' ability level. Progress feedback and freedom of gameplay in serious games can be implemented to provide an engaging and enjoyable environment for candidates. Few studies examined adaptivity and some examined serious games without an authentic environment or task. Overall, the review gives an overview of game design principles for game-based performance assessment. It highlights two research gaps regarding authenticity and adaptivity and concludes with three implications for practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecstasy tablets, a type of common street drug originally consisting of 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), provide stimulant and hallucinogen psychoactive effects. They are frequently found in nightclubs, musical festivals or other recreational events believed to create a relaxing experience for the users. From a forensic perspective, when the drug of abuse is suspected in such scenarios, the law enforcement personnel would then require an easy‐to‐perform, quick and accurate method to detect the existence of such controlled substance prior to the seizure and subsequent forensic examination. In this study, we assessed the performance of a portable Raman spectroscopy as the primary aid in determining ecstasy tablets at the point of use. A total of 130 ecstasy tablet samples were analysed by Raman spectroscopy and characterised by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Active chemical substances and cutting agents detected by the two instrumentations were then compared. The performance of Raman spectroscopy was further assessed in terms of its accuracy, sensitivity and specificity, corresponding to the analysis results obtained from GC–MS analysis. Overall, portable Raman Spectroscopy used in this study shows an accuracy of 85.4% in analysing ecstasy tablets obtained from case samples, while the sensitivity and specificity were determined as 85.2% and 100%, respectively. No false positives for MDMA or other drugs were reported. Our results show that portable Raman spectroscopy is a suitable technique for targeted determination of the presence of ecstasy tablets, especially in forensic cases that require non‐destructive, rapid and mass screening during on‐site testing by law enforcement personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the evolving field of legal information systems, Claude 3 and other advanced conversational agents (CAs) are emerging as transformative forces. This interdisciplinary study combines quantitative methods, legal analysis, and digital transformation approaches to evaluate the efficacy of leading commercially available CAs in the German legal environment. Employing a corpus of 200 unique legal tasks, the research benchmarks Claude 3 against notable systems such as Google Gemini and ChatGPT versions 4 and 3.5. Through automated evaluations of 1,600 responses generated by these CAs, Claude 3 is demonstrated to be the most effective system, capable of successfully addressing realistic legal challenges and passing a German business law examination with an overall score of 60%—significantly surpassing the 50% score of the previous performance leader ChatGPT-4. Despite its superior performance, Claude 3, along with other evaluated systems, exhibits considerable limitations that can be difficult to identify. Based on these insights, it is recommended that legal professionals thoroughly verify all CA-generated content before use. Additionally, caution is advised for novices utilizing CA-generated legal advice, due to the specialized knowledge required for proper evaluation. This study contributes to the ongoing study of digital transformation in the legal domain, offering insights for both academic and industry stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]