Use of 3D Laser Scanner for Rock Fractures Mapping

In the process of investigation, design and upgrading of rock slopes, the orientation and spacing of the structural discontinuities or joints in the rock mass are thoroughly mapped in the field so that any unstable blocks can be identified and stabilization measures designed. The orientation of the structural discontinuities is traditionally measured manually using geological compass placed directly at the exposed surfaces. Scaffolding is usually erected so that the geologist can physically access the exposed rock surface. A large number of measurements are usually required in order to obtain a statistical mean of the fracture orientation. With the ongoing advances of digital technology, 3D laser scanning technique can be used to replace direct physical access and large number of manual measurements can be completely eliminated. A prototype system is described in this paper that combines the non-contact measurement technologies of photogrammetric imaging and 3D laser scanning to create dimensionally accurate and pictorially correct 3 dimensional models and orthoimages of a rock fractures. By taking photographs from at least two different locations, lines of sight are mathematically intersected to produce the 3D coordinates of the key reference points in a rock face. Automatic 3D laser scanning unit is then used to produce the 3D coordinates of the entire rock surface. By overlapping the images rectified from photogrammetry technique with the coordinates from 3D laser scanning in an Autodesk 3D Studio Max environment, the coordinates of any objects in the photographs can be selected and their orientation such as dip angle and dip direction calculated automatically. A case study is presented to compare the orientations of fracture planes measured using geological compass and the orientations from the prototype system developed.published_or_final_versio

AI-enabled value co-creation in B2B relationships: an exploratory study of the payments industry in Asia

In the rapidly changing landscape of the payments industry, there is a significant focus on AI in generating co-created value in partnership and collaboration with B2B customers and partners. The increasing demand for improved interoperability, operational efficiency, and enhanced customer experiences in the digital payments domain highlights the significant role of AI in enabling value creation. This research aims to investigate the potential of AI in driving value creation and the important considerations that leaders and managers must address to successfully integrate AI in the payments sector. As the dynamics of B2B interactions undergo a paradigm shift, recent literature underscores the significance of co-created value in augmenting overall experiences, emphasising the need for "structural fit" in these collaborative exchanges. In the midst of continuous advancement of AI, participants in the payment industry are progressively acknowledging the importance of cooperative partnerships to exploit the potential of AI across multiple operational domains. And thus, collaboration among payment players and their partners has become imperative to navigate the swiftly evolving landscape. As this transformative development gains recognition, these industry participants are actively reshaping their operational frameworks, with a renewed focus on Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols and the incorporation of AI across diverse functional domains. These would include areas such as client servicing, customer marketing, operational enhancements, compliance procedures, fraud and risk management, and various facets of payment processing, reflecting a concerted effort to align with the evolving technological landscape. This research thus, would uncover the current state of industry adoption, and the value and benefits of AI integration, in addition to, uncovering commonalities or differences in AI adoption strategies across organisations, considering various influential factors such as organisational size, resource allocation, skill proficiency, and cultural aspects for the payments industry. This would give rise to further exploration of AI's integration and interoperability within the B2B value co-creation spectrum. Through a systematic approach for conducting the research, the possible outcomes of the analysis and coding process could present a picture unique for B2B participants in the payments industry. Notably, aggregated dimensions, that warrant careful consideration in the seamless integration of AI-enabled value co-creation within the B2B sphere of the payments industry. By embracing the considerations and strategies outlined, organisational leaders can proactively position their entities for success in the ever-evolving payments landscape, fostering innovation, operational efficiency, and elevated customer experiences. And theoretical, this research contributes to an enriched understanding of the essential requisites for fostering seamless interactions and collaborations, while the managerial insights offer a holistic understanding of the broader implications of AI integration within the payments industry

Oesophageal cancer located above the tracheal bifurcation is an independent poor prognostic factor. Neoadjuvant chemoradiation improves survival

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Apathy in subarachnoid hemorrhage: study protocol for a 1-year follow-up study

IntroductionApathy is a frequent and debilitating condition among subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) survivors. Few studies have evaluated apathy in SAH, and none have examined the course of the condition, predictors of persistent apathy, or its impact on functional outcomes. The proposed study will examine, for the first time, the 12-month course of apathy and its impact on functional outcomes in the largest cohort of SAH survivors to date.Methods and analysisThe current study is designed as a prospective cohort study with a duration of 36 months. We will recruit 240 participants. A trained research assistant will assess apathy using the Apathy Evaluation Scale 3 months after SAH. Patients’ level of functioning, comorbidity, global cognitive functioning, and depressive symptoms will be assessed. All SAH patients will participate in follow-up assessments of apathy and functioning at 9 (T2) and 15 months (T3) post-SAH or at 6 and 12 months after the first assessment. Predictors of persistent apathy and the impact of apathy on functional outcomes will be examined.DiscussionThis will be the first large-scale 1-year follow-up study of apathy in SAH survivors. The findings will provide valuable data to advance our understanding of the clinical course of apathy in this population. Moreover, the results will have clinical relevance by providing essential information to patients, caregivers, and clinicians; promoting the evaluation of apathy; and facilitating the development of prevention strategies, rehabilitation programs, and therapeutic options.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for this study was obtained from the Joint Chinese University of Hong Kong-New Territories East Cluster Clinical Research Ethics Committee (CREC Ref. No.: 2023.339) on 3 October 2023. The findings of this study will be shared through publication in a peer-reviewed journal, presentations at relevant conferences, and dissemination through social media platforms

Etiology and Pathogenesis of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is complex disease composed of different histological grades and types. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the development of different phenotypes remain largely unknown. Epidemiological studies identified multiple exogenous and endogenous risk factors for ovarian cancer development. Among them, an inflammatory stromal microenvironment seems to play a critical role in the initiation of the disease. The interaction between such a microenvironment, genetic polymorphisms, and different epithelial components such as endosalpingiosis, endometriosis, and ovarian inclusion cyst in the ovarian cortex may induce different genetic changes identified in the epithelial component of different histological types of ovarian tumors. Genetic studies on different histological grades and types provide insight into the pathogenetic pathways for the development of different disease phenotypes. However, the link between all these genetic changes and the etiological factors remains to be established

The predictive value of G8 and the Cancer and aging research group chemotherapy toxicity tool in treatment-related toxicity in older Chinese patients with cancer

Introduction: Older patients experience a higher risk of treatment-related toxicity (TRT). The G8 screening tool was developed to separate cancer older patients fit to receive standard treatment from those who are frail and experiencing functional decline due to reduced organ function and multiple comorbidities. The Cancer and Aging Research Group chemotherapy toxicity tool (CARG-tt) questionnaire was developed to predict chemotherapy toxicity in geriatric patients. This prospective observational study evaluated the performance of G8 and CARG-tt in predicting severe TRT in older Chinese cancer patients. Methods: Chinese patients aged ≥65 with a diagnosis of solid malignancy and scheduled to receive anti-cancer treatment (chemotherapy or targeted therapy) were enrolled from March 2016 to July 2017 at the Department of Clinical Oncology at Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong. All patients completed the G8 and CARG-tt screening and pre-treatment assessments before starting treatment. Patients were monitored for any severe TRT, which was defined by grades 3–5 using the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v4.03, treatment discontinuation, or unexpected hospitalization from starting to 30 days after treatment. Results: A total of 259 patients (male: 154, 59.5%; median age: 73.4, age range: 65–93) were enrolled in the study. Two hundred and ten (81.1%) patients received chemotherapy while the rest (n = 49, 18.9%) received targeted therapy. Overall, 146 patients (56.8%) experienced severe TRT. The mean G8 score was 12.4 (SD: 2.8). The G8 score had a significant association with unexpected admission (cutoff: 14, 41.3% vs. 26.5%, p = 0.03) but not significant in other types of TRTs. The mean CARG-tt score was 7.67 (SD: 3.7); it was not associated with severe TRTs. Conclusions: The G8 and CARG-tt demonstrated a weak prediction of severe TRT in older Chinese cancer patients. Future studies need to develop predictive tools for TRT in patients receiving novel antineoplastic therapies, with a focus on subgroup analysis for different populations

Saliva Viral Load Better Correlates with Clinical and Immunological Profiles in Children with Coronavirus Disease 2019

BACKGROUND: Pediatric COVID-19 studies exploring the relationships between NPS and saliva viral loads, clinical and immunological profiles are lacking. METHODS: Demographics, immunological profiles, nasopharyngeal swab (NPS), and saliva samples collected on admission, and hospital length of stay (LOS) were assessed in children below 18 years with COVID-19. FINDINGS: 91 patients were included between March and August 2020. NPS and saliva viral loads were correlated (r=0.315, p=0.01). Symptomatic patients had significantly higher NPS and saliva viral loads than asymptomatic patients. Serial NPS and saliva viral load measurements showed that the log10 NPS (r=-0.532, p<0.001) and saliva (r=-0.417, p<0.001) viral loads for all patients were inversely correlated with the days from symptom onset with statistical significance. Patients with cough, sputum, and headache had significantly higher saliva, but not NPS, viral loads. Higher saliva, but not NPS, viral loads were associated with total lymphopenia, CD3 and CD4 lymphopenia (all p<0.05), and were inversely correlated with total lymphocyte (r=-0.43), CD3 (r=-0.55), CD4 (r=-0.60), CD8 (r=-0.41), B (r=-0.482), and NK (r=-0.416) lymphocyte counts (all p<0.05). Interpretation: Saliva viral loads on admission in children correlated better with clinical and immunological profiles than NPS

The 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccination is not useful in BMT patients at risk of pneumococcal bacteremic sepsis

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Prognostication of serial post-intensity-modulated radiation therapy undetectable plasma EBV DNA for nasopharyngeal carcinoma

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