Accurate and efficient evaluation of the intersection area between two axis-aligned ellipses is essential in applications where the coordinate system or underlying geometry naturally imposes alignment. However, most existing numerical integration techniques are designed for arbitrarily oriented ellipses, and their generality typically requires adaptive refinement or solving higher-degree algebraic intersection formulations, leading to greater computational cost than necessary in the axis-aligned case. This study introduces two analytically derived, fixed-cost Gauss–Legendre quadrature formulations for computing the intersection area in the axis-aligned configuration. The first is a sine-mapped Gauss–Legendre quadrature, which applies a trigonometric transformation to improve conditioning near endpoint singularities while retaining constant-time evaluation. The second is an enhanced two-panel affine-normalized formulation, which splits the intersection domain into two sub-intervals to increase local accuracy while maintaining a fixed computational cost. Both methods are benchmarked against adaptive Simpson integration, polygonal discretization, and Monte Carlo sampling over 10,000 randomly generated ellipse pairs. The two-panel formulation achieves a mean relative error of 0.003% with runtimes more than twenty times faster than the adaptive reference and remains consistently more efficient than the polygonal and Monte Carlo approaches while exhibiting comparable or superior numerical behavior across all tested regimes.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is one of the most prevalent liver diseases globally, contributing to both economic and health-related challenges. We aimed to evaluate the global, regional, and national burden of MASLD from 1990 to 2023, quantify the contribution of identified modifiable risk factors, and project future prevalence up to the year 2050. Methods: Estimates of MASLD prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were produced by age, sex, region, Socio-demographic Index (SDI), and Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) index across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023 as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023. The MASLD burden attributable to three risk factors (smoking, high BMI, and high fasting plasma glucose) was assessed as part of the GBD comparative risk assessment. As a secondary analysis, we used these estimates to forecast MASLD prevalence up to 2050 using fasting plasma glucose and mean BMI as predictors. Furthermore, to examine the relative contributions of population ageing, population growth, and changes in MASLD prevalence rate to the forecasted changes in case counts from 2023 to 2050, we conducted a decomposition analysis. Findings: In 2023, approximately 1·3 billion (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1·2 to 1·4) individuals were estimated to be living with MASLD (ie, 16·1% of the global population), with an age-standardised prevalence rate of 14 429·3 (95% UI 13 268·3 to 15 990·6) per 100 000 population, representing a percentage increase of 142·7% (95% UI 139·2 to 146·7) in crude numbers from 1990 (0·5 billion [0·5 to 0·6]) and of 28·6% (27·8 to 29·5) in the rate (11 217·2 [10 276·8 to 12 467·0] per 100 000 in 1990). An estimated 3·6 million (2·8 to 4·5) total DALYs were attributable to MASLD worldwide in 2023, corresponding to an age-standardised DALY rate of 39·6 (31·2 to 49·9) per 100 000 population. Despite a 116·3% (93·3 to 139·4) increase in crude DALYs (from 1·7 million [1·3 to 2·1] in 1990), its age-standardised estimate remained consistent (1·8% [–8·6 to 12·8]) from 1990 (38·9 [30·1 to 49·8] per 100 000) to 2023. There was substantial variation in age-standardised estimates across regions. North Africa and the Middle East had the highest prevalence rate (29 246·1 [26 848·3 to 32 048·7] per 100 000) and Andean Latin America showed the highest DALY rate (152·3 [114·1 to 194·7] per 100 000). By contrast, the high-income Asia Pacific region had the lowest prevalence rate (8653·5 [7923·7 to 9592·8] per 100 000) and east Asia had the lowest DALY rate (16·3 [13·5 to 19·9] per 100 000) among all GBD regions. North Africa and the Middle East showed disproportionately higher prevalence rates relative to other regions with similar SDIs. Lower SDIs and HAQs were associated with higher age-standardised DALY rates. The age-standardised prevalence rate was consistently higher in males (15 616·4 [14 349·2 to 17 263·3] per 100 000 people in 2023) than in females (13 245·2 [12 132·0 to 14 692·6] per 100 000 people), and peaked at age 80–84 years in both sexes. The number of MASLD prevalent cases was the highest in younger adults, peaking at age 35–39 years for males and age 55–59 years for females. Among the risk factors for MASLD, high fasting plasma glucose presented the largest contribution to the age-standardised DALY rate of total MASLD in 2023 (2·2 [95% UI 1·6 to 3·1] per 100 000 people), followed by high BMI (1·4 [0·6 to 2·4] per 100 000 people) and smoking (1·0 [0·3 to 1·8] per 100 000 people). Our forecasting model estimates that 1·8 billion (95% UI 1·6 to 2·0) individuals are likely to have MASLD by 2050, representing a 42·0% increase from 2023. The age-standardised prevalence rate is expected to increase to 15 774·9 (95% UI 14 613·9 to 17 336·2) per 100 000 people in 2050, representing an average annual percentage change of 0·3% (95% UI 0·3–0·3). According to our decomposition analysis, this change will be primarily due to population growth, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa and Middle East, and less by population ageing or epidemiological change. Interpretation: With a global prevalence of 16·1% and approximately 1·3 billion people already living with MASLD in 2023, the condition has and will continue to have substantial health and economic impacts worldwide. An inverse association between the HAQ Index and age-standardised DALY rates suggests that countries with lower health-care access and quality might be less well positioned to manage the growing MASLD burden, underscoring the need for strengthened health-system capacity in these settings. Funding: Gates Foundation.

apid prototyping (RP) is a widely used process in the industry to shorten development time. Another advantage of this technology is the ability to create conformal cooling systems, thus not only cooling time and cycle time can be shortened, but also shrinkage, thus warpage can be decreased. The main disadvantage of Rapid prototyping materials is their low thermal conductivity, which strongly influences cooling properties and warpage. The research based on a special developed injection mold for novel rapid prototyping based mold inserts with cooling systems. A method has been introduced to determine the most important thermal parameters for injection molding simulations using rapid tools. Those parameters, which can be measured such as the specific heat and thermal conductivity of the mold materials, are directly implemented into the software. The heat transfer coefficient between the polymer melt and the rapid tool insert surface cannot be measured in a reasonable way, thus simulation software was used to determine that based on indirect calculation derived from real measurements. In the paper, the method was proved with Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Polyjet mold inserts.

Single-leg landing (SL) imposes substantial mechanical demand on the patellar tendon, with peak patellar tendon force (PPTF) serving as a key metric for characterizing the internal mechanical environment of the tendon. This study integrates 3D modeling with high-resolution in vivo kinematics to quantify the patellar tendon moment arm (PTMA) and the PPTF, examining their biomechanical correlations and neuromuscular features. Minimal sex-related PTMA differences suggest comparable anatomical leverage during knee flexion across both sexes. In both sexes, PPTF was significantly positively correlated with the knee flexion angle at initial contact (IC) and significantly negatively correlated with the knee range of motion (ROM). Muscle network analysis showed lower clustering coefficients in high-frequency versus low-frequency bands. Reduced IC knee flexion and increased ROM attenuate patellar tendon mechanical demand. By incorporating individualized moment-arm analysis, this study provides a biomechanical basis for understanding patellar tendon loading during landing.

The paper is concerned with analyzing and comparing two exact algorithms from the viewpoint of computational complexity. Both serve for calculating fault-detection tests of digital circuits. The first one is the so-called composite justification, and the second is the D-algorithm. The analysis will be performed on combinational logic networks at the gate level. Here single and multiple stuck-at logic faults will be considered. As a result, it is pointed out that the composite justification requires significantly less computational step than the D-algorithm and its modifications. The difference manifests itself especially in terms of multiple faults. From this fact it has been conjectured that possibly no other algorithm is available in this field with fewer computational steps. If the claim holds, then it follows directly that the test-calculation problem is of exponential time, and so are all the other NP-complete problems. It may also be expected that the minimal complexity of composite justification applies to any modeling level (either low or high) of digital circuits, just like the exponential-time solution.

HPWS is currently perceived as potential source of the competitive skills, capabilities and knowledge of human resources. This study aim to illustrate how high-performance work systems (HPWS) offer the foundation for strategic business performance (SBP) through the mediating function of organizational flexibility and contextualizing manufacturing firms of developing countries by providing an empirically tested framework for analyzing SBP. The current study is based on a quantitative research design. Data were gathered from manufacturing firms from the top, middle and operational management firms. SEM was used to analyze our 589 samples. Findings revealed that HPWS is the only component aiding manufacturing firms’ growth. The results illustrate that HPWS will take a long time to achieve SBP if organisational flexibility does not mediate the relationship between HPWS and SBP. Utilizing actual data, this study reveals practical strategies for enhancing the mechanism of business development performance among manufacturing organizations. Furthermore, this research helps to understand the relationship between HPWS and organizational flexibility in attaining SBP.

This paper presents a case-study to demonstrate the calculation methods of growth contributions using structural decompositions of input-output tables and their Hungarian applications. Although the required data are available with a considerable time-lag, results show that taking backward linkages through demand for inputs and value chain multipliers into account can significantly alter the picture on the growth effects of industries and final demand categories by the conventional approach based on quarterly GDP calculations. This can be instructive for analysts and policy-and decision-makers not only in Hungary, but also in other countries. The study was performed by using public macroeconomic and sectoral data obtained from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office.

In many European countries, flood protection and development of levees has a great importance due to ever-increasing flood levels. The final version of Eurocode 7 includes three chapters that govern the levee design. They suggest mainly conventional concepts and principles but do not provide a comprehensive design methodology for use in practice as it was formerly given in the national standards. Analytical seepage calculations used in present-day practice are based on numerous simplifying assumptions, so they often do not simulate actual conditions. The method of slices, generally used for stability analysis, is sometimes criticized for theoretical reasons. Recently, development of numerical modeling and software have employed coupled finite element analysis for mechanical and hydraulic problems. A single FEM model can apply to levee design, stability analysis, underseepage and through seepage, and analysis of seepage forces. This paper reports research results gained about modeling levees by Plaxis to meet the requirements of the Eurocode 7.

Sustainable rural development is important as the rural areas provide important contributions to both agrifood production and urban economies. The multi-dimensionality of the issue calls for inclusion of multiple measures (indicators) in the relevant analysis. This paper embarks on bibliometric analysis to identify the key trends in the measurement of sustainable rural development. The results suggest that sustainable rural development is related to such issues as economic development, health, demographics, environmental situation circularity, income, and diversification. These indicators are also dependent on the level of aggregation (e.g., community, municipality, country). The data sources relevant to the measures of the sustainable rural development are discussed in the case of the European Union. The results may also guide researchers and policy makers in other regions when establishing indicator systems for measurement of the sustainable rural development.