Assessment Scheme Research Articles

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Suicidal Behaviour.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Suicidal Behaviour.

Converting to an international unit system improves harmonization of results for SARS-CoV-2 quantification: Results from multiple external quality assessments

The detection of SARS-CoV-2 vRNA in clinical samples has relied almost exclusively on RT-qPCR as the gold standard test. Published results from various external quality assessments ("ring trials") worldwide have shown that there is still a large variability in results reported for the same samples. As reference standards of SARS-CoV-2 RNA are available, we tested whether using standard curves to convert Ct values into copies/mL (cp/mL) improved harmonization. Nine laboratories using 23 test systems (15 of which were unique) prepared standard dilution curves to convert Ct values of 13 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples to cp/mL (hereafter IU/mL). The samples were provided in three rounds of a virus genome detection external quality assessment (EQA) scheme. We tested the precision and accuracy of results reported in IU/mL, and attempted to identify the sources of variability. Reporting results as IU/mL improved the precision of the estimated concentrations of all samples compared to reporting Ct values, although some inaccuracy remained. Variance analysis showed that nearly all variability in data was explained by individual test systems within individual laboratories. When controlling for this effect, there was no significant difference between all other factors tested (test systems, EQA rounds, sample material). Converting results to copies/mL improved precision across laboratory test systems. However, it seems the results are still very specific to test systems within laboratories. Further efforts could be made to improve accuracy and achieve full harmonization across diagnostic laboratories.

A biological integrity framework for describing animal welfare and wellbeing

Ethical treatment of animals is the keystone of livestock production. Assessment of welfare is integral to assurance that animals experience a good life. Underpinning assurance are concepts of what constitutes good welfare, a good life and wellbeing. This review examines the concepts of welfare and wellbeing and the frameworks that have been developed for describing their scope. Historically, the tripartite model of welfare (feeling well, functioning well, leading a natural life) has been translated into the Five Freedoms (FF), Five Domains (FD), Good Life (GL), Welfare through Competence (WtC) and OIE World Organisation for Animal Health Welfare Principles frameworks. These frameworks provide scaffolds for numerous welfare assessment schemes. However, the three-part model of wellbeing (eudaimonia, hedonia, social interaction) lacks an explicit assessment framework, although FD, GL and WtC implicitly address aspects of wellbeing. Whereas positive affective (hedonic) experiences are considered to constitute positive welfare, positive aspects of eudaimonic function and social interaction are considered to be aspects of wellbeing above and beyond any indirect contribution they make to positive affective experiences (i.e. positive welfare). In this view, positive health is more than the absence of ill-health and positive social interactions are more than freedom from social isolation. New phenotypes in farm animals identified through analysis of sensor data are providing new perspectives on the functional integrity of biological processes that align well with concepts of wellbeing. These analyses draw on methods in resilience theory to examine stability in complex dynamic systems, specifically, uniformity of trajectories, periodicity of biorhythms and complexity of networks. A framework is proposed that loosely partitions FF, FD, GL and WtC into inputs, opportunities, and outcomes. The framework positions the outcome of biological integrity within the context of input constraints that can generate harms and deficiencies, and environmental opportunities that can foster acquisition of competencies and flourishing. It combines the eudaimonic, hedonic and social aspects of wellbeing within the tripartite terminology of welfare. It is hoped that the framework can help orientate new descriptions of biological function in farm animals derived from sensor data within the broader literature on welfare and wellbeing.

Constructing symbolic capital to coordinate teaching-focused university-industry collaborations in China: a documentary, videological and empirical analysis

This paper explores how the Chinese government constructs symbolic capital and uses its converted forms to coordinate the relationship between the industry and the higher education sector for implementing teaching-focused university-industry collaboration (UIC). Through videological analysis of thirteen video segments, documentary analysis of three important state policy documents and a special website, and semi-structured interviews with six enterprise representatives and three university representatives, the study reveals that the forms of explicit symbolic capital include linking teaching-focused UIC with national development and rejuvenation, endowing participants with high accolades, and selecting exemplary cases for special recognition. The implicit symbolic capital includes putting teaching-focused UIC within the framework of formal university assessment schemes and untapping participants’ economic capital based upon expanded potential markets. Capital conversion and mobility have led to an education-oriented ecosystem where various stakeholders share a common vision for quality advancement in higher education.

Six Sigma metrics as an indicator for Randox International Quality Assessment Scheme in clinical biochemistry laboratory

Context: Six Sigma methodology represents an evolution in quality assessment and management that has been implemented widely in industry and health sector since the mid-1980s. It consists of five steps: define, measure, analyze, improve, and control (DMAIC). Randox International Quality Assessment Scheme (RIQAS) program Target Score (TS) is a performance indicator, and Sigma metrics is considered as a gold standard for overall performance. Aim: The aim of this study is to present the TS and Sigma metrics observed in clinical chemistry laboratory in SSK Hospital associated with Lady Hardinge Medical College to evaluate the analytical performance of T3, T4, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) parameters. The study period is from June to August 2022. Materials and Methods: The Sigma metrics for the various analytes was calculated by the following equation: Σ = TEa − bias/CV (TEa—total allowable error, CV—coefficient of variation). Acceptable performance criteria: standard deviation index (SDI) <2; TS >50; the closer a value is to 120, the better the performance, <40 is unacceptable; and %deviation should be less than the defined acceptable limits which is unique to each analyte, the closer the value is to zero, the better is the performance. Results: Our RIQAS results lie in acceptable range except for T3 in the month of August in which TS was unacceptable. Our laboratory Sigma metrics were below three sigmas. The findings of our exercise emphasize the need for a detailed evaluation, and we promote the use of Sigma metrics in quality assurance in the best interest of the patient. Conclusion: Quality check strategies were applied according to the TS and sigma values.

A Novel Lower-Limb Coordination Assessment Scheme Using Multi-Scale Nonlinear Coupling Characteristics With sEMG

Motor dysfunction (e.g., incoordination of upper or lower limb) significantly limits the individuals’ ability of daily living, and thus the provisioning of a motion coordination assessment method becomes of vital importance. As a quantitative indicator, inter-muscular coupling strength could assess limb coordination. Since surface electromyography (sEMG) signals cover nonlinear coupling characteristics, in this paper, a lower-limb motion coordination assessment scheme with intermuscular coherence (IMC) analysis and optimization variational mode decomposition (VMD) is proposed. First, sEMG signals are decomposed into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) using optimized VMD. Then, the nonlinear coupling feature vector in the beta-band frequency domian (15-35Hz) is extracted by the G-P algorithm from optimal IMF, thereby estimating intermuscular coupling strength by IMC. In particular, differential evolution (DE) algorithm’s global optimization capability and envelope entropy (EE)’s sparsity are adopted to provide the basis for optimization VMD and screening optimal IMF, respectively. Finally, signals are collected from four muscle pairs of the 12 male and 12 female subjects to assess lower-limb motions coordination. Simultaneously, the independent sample T test is leveraged to compare the effects of gender on groups’ characteristics (e.g., age, height, and body mass). Results demonstrate not only the effectiveness of the proposed approach (i.e., p < 0.01 with both “S-walking” and “Running” motions, p < 0.05 with “Q-walking”), but also the difference of motion coordination relationship between male and female adults as well as the significance of muscle selection.

Influence factors of lead in whole blood in the German External Quality Assessment Scheme by ICP-MS

To investigate the influence factors of lead in whole blood in the German External Quality Assessment Scheme(G-EQUAS) biological materials by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS) from 2018 to 2020. ICP-MS was used to determine lead in whole blood of G-EQUAS by optimizing the reaction gas mode, sample dilution ratio, internal standard element, isotope and so on, analyzed the result. This study indicated that selection of internal standard elements, isotopes, matrix effect and physical effect may affect the accuracy of ICP-MS determination of lead in biological samples. Avoided the factors that may affect the result when determining lead in whole blood by ICP-MS.

한영 문학번역 텍스트에의 Juliane House의 번역품질 평가이론 적용: 사례 연구

This study considers Juliane House’s (2015) translation quality assessment (TQA) scheme for Korean-to-English literary translation evaluation. Unlike typical literary translation evaluations, House’s scheme is based on Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) framework, which involves functional aspects of language. This case study is the first to utilize House’s TQA for Korean-to-English translated texts. The results reveal that House’s (2015) TQA has more advantages than disadvantages in terms of evaluating the English translation of Korean texts. We are able to utilize the functional aspects of the texts in cultural and situational contexts as the evaluative elements such as field, tenor, and mode using corpus analysis.

The Position of the Polish Centre for Accreditation in the Political System and Its Impact on the Performance Efficiency of Public Tasks in the Field of Accreditation

This paper examines the position of the Polish Centre for Accreditation within the structure of Polish public administration. On the presumption that the PCA is a specialised administrative entity of a legal nature similar to one of an agency, which performs state tasks by accrediting notified bodies within the product conformity assessment scheme, the article assesses the influence of the Centre’s tasks and its position within the political system on the efficiency and quality of public functions it fulfils in the area of accreditation. The study demonstrates that the current structure and position of the Centre in the political system substantially facilitates the efficient implementation of state tasks in respect of accreditation. The research method employed herein in order to achieve the adopted research assumptions is the dogmatic and legal method.

Annual Report on the External Quality Assessment Scheme for Clinical Parasitology in Korea (2020–2021)

Annual Report on the External Quality Assessment Scheme for Clinical Parasitology in Korea (2020–2021)

Analysis and assessment of life-cycle carbon emissions of space frame structures

The construction industry takes up a significant part of global energy consumption and carbon emissions, and thus accurate calculation and evaluation of full life-cycle energy consumption and carbon emissions of different types of building structures are important for low carbon-oriented structural design. Large-span structures usually consume more materials, need more complex construction processes, and thus have a larger environmental impact. In this study, the life cycle assessment of the carbon emission of space frame structures which is a classical type of large-span structure is conducted. Space frame structures with bolted spherical joints and space frame structures with welded hollow spherical joints are considered. The life cycle of a space frame structure is divided into four phases including component production, construction, maintenance, and demolition. The tiered hybrid method that combines process-based calculation and input-output analysis is adopted to evaluate the carbon emission of space frame structures. Parametrical studies on the height-span ratio and grid number are carried out using the proposed assessment scheme. The carbon emissions of the space frame structures with different types of joints are investigated and compared. It is found that lower material consumption does not always result in lower carbon emission, and thus it is necessary to evaluate the life-cycle carbon emission during lower carbon-oriented design of space frame structures. An equation for approximately and quickly estimating the carbon emission of space frame structures is fitted from the material consumption to carbon emission datum obtained from the parametrical studies. This study provides a useful reference for the carbon emission assessment and low-carbon oriented design of space frame structures.

External quality assessment of laboratory performance in bacteriology in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2011-2019.

Since 2007, national public health laboratories in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have participated in a regional external quality assessment scheme in bacteriology to improve testing proficiency. To assess laboratory performance in bacteriology in the EMR between 2011 and 2019 using the regional external quality assessment scheme. We analysed the accuracy of participant-reported data in bacterial identification, Gram stain microscopy, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. For each category, we assessed the performance over time, the performance on multiple organisms, and whether a laboratory repeatedly failed to attain satisfactory results. Between 2011 and 2019, 70% of laboratories achieved satisfactory performance for bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and 85% performed satisfactory Gram stain microscopy. Testing did not improve on multiple organisms and results were consistently low for some pathogens and test categories. Twenty-nine percent of laboratories underperformed throughout the study period. The unchanged performance over time and underperformance of laboratories highlight the need for improvements in the regional external quality assessment scheme. Participating laboratories and WHO need to work more actively to strengthen the problem areas.

Transformer maintenance decision based on condition monitoring and fuzzy probability hybrid reliability assessment

Equipment maintenance decision is a very critical technology in power grid asset management. The traditional maintenance decision focuses on the analysis of the operation performance of the equipment itself, but lacks the analysis and description of the fuzziness of power equipment outage parameters. Therefore, this paper establishes the reliability assessment model based on equipment health condition monitoring, which makes the maintenance decision transition from equipment level to system level, and the fuzzy mathematics theory is introduced to establish a model describing the fuzziness of equipment failure rate parameter to make system reliability assessment and equipment maintenance decision scheme. Firstly, this paper proposes a fuzzy failure rate model of power transformer based on condition monitoring. Then the fuzzy parameters are combined with the conventional probabilistic reliability assessment method to establish the fuzzy probability hybrid reliability assessment model of the transmission system, and the fuzzy maintenance reliability benefit index is defined and deduced. Finally, a maintenance strategy of transformer based on fuzzy probability hybrid reliability assessment and fuzzy set theory is proposed, and the case study is carried out on a regional power grid in East China. The results show that the proposed model provides an improved maintenance strategy of power equipment.

Assessment and prediction of railway station equipment health status based on graph neural network

The equipment in railway station is complicated and diverse, and the health status assessment and prediction of equipment is crucial to the safe and stable operation of stations. Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) effectively combine graph data with deep learning technology, which has stronger data and knowledge representation capability and can efficiently handle some non-Euclidean spatial data problems with irregular station equipment associated network structure. Based on this, this paper takes the automatic gate machine and X-ray security checker as an example and proposes a health status assessment and prediction scheme for railway passenger station equipment based on Graph Long Short-Term Memory (G-LSTM) neural network. This paper first analyzes the main factors affecting the health status of passenger station equipment, as well as the correlation between the equipment. Then, the initial graph network structure of the passenger station equipment is constructed, and the G-LSTM model is used to evaluate and predict the health status of the passenger station equipment. Finally, this paper takes the automatic gate machine and X-ray security checker of a high-speed railway station in Beijing as an example to verify the proposed method. The experimental results show that all evaluation metrics perform well, indicating that the G-LSTM model has high accuracy in assessing and predicting the health status of automatic gate machine and X-ray security checker. This paper realizes the health status assessment and prediction of railway passenger station equipment, which can provide some reference for the Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) of equipment in railway stations.

Assessment of ESP students’ learning outcomes in a digital learning environment

Problem statement. The description of a pedagogic research in the field of formative assessment theory and practice is presented. The goal of the study is to define pedagogic and methodological conditions for effective evaluation of ESP students’ learning outcomes in a digital learning environment. Methodology. On the basis of key theoretical provisions of formative assessment and interdisciplinary approaches LSPCLIL, a complete set of criteria-based ESP evaluation tasks and assessment schemes were developed for Business English course delivered in the groups of BMSTU masters students majoring in economics. The approach to grading that correlates with BMSTU point-rating system was substantiated. The comparative analysis of modern platforms allowed to select the domestic service pruff.me, which was used as a ground for a digital assessment space (DAS), a part of BMSTU digital learning environment needed for implementing formative assessment of ESP learning outcomes. Results. The developed evaluation materials integrated in the DAS were tested by ESP students in a distant format. Conclusion. The research showed that creating DAS as an essential component of a university digital learning environment can contribute to effective assessment of ESP students’ competence-based learning outcomes provided that underlying methodology is taken into account and formative assessment technology is implemented in full volume.

Dioxin-like POPs emission trends as a decision support tool for developing sustainable MSW management scheme –an exploratory study

The paper reports on an innovative application of dioxin-like persistent organic pollutants (dl-POPs) emission trends as a measure of environmental performance for designing feasible municipal solid waste management (MSWM) schemes. MSWM systems are highly dependent on the income status and the population density and it is quintessential for developing countries to devise strategies suiting to its characteristics rather than simply adapting successful processes/technologies in developed nations. Hence a lower-middle-income, high-density populated state of India – Kerala, which represents the typical scenario of majority of towns in developing countries was selected as the verification study site. Annual inventorisation of dl-POPs for the current scenario of the state was developed as a spatial model at the lowest administrative block level using geographical information system for the easy and effective comparative assessment. Further, a dl-POPs emission based MSWM scheme which could reduce up to 65% of emissions from current scenario has been developed and compared it with contemporary life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) schemes in terms of green-house gas emissions (GHG) and landfill area requirements as environmental performance validation. Daily exposure dose of dl-POPs were predicted from the per-capita annual emission associated with different MSWM schemes and hazard quotients were also calculated to provide an overview of the health risk posed by the emissions. The predicted health risk factors were observed to be 5 times higher than the threshold level in current scenario whereas 10 times reduction in dose levels could be achieved through the proposed scheme of MSWM.

The credibility of Polish diagnostic microbiological testing in 2021 based on the results of the POLMICRO external laboratory control

&lt;br&gt;Introduction: The paper presents the results of the 28th edition of the Polish National External Quality Assessment Scheme in Microbiology POLMICRO organised by the Centre of Quality Control in Microbiology (CQCM).&lt;/br&gt; &lt;br&gt;Aim: The aim of the scheme is the assessment of the credibility of microbiological testing carried out by medical laboratories in Poland.&lt;/br&gt; &lt;br&gt;Material and methods: The assessment is based on the analysis of the results obtained by the participants in each round of the POLMICRO, POLMICRO/MIKOLOGIA (MICOLOGY), and POLMICRO/SSE programmes in 2021.&lt;/br&gt; &lt;br&gt;Results: Positive results in the full annual cycle were obtained by 95.73% of laboratories participating in the POLMICRO programme and all participants of POLMICRO/MIKOLOGIA (MICOLOGY) and POLMICRO/SSE.&lt;/br&gt; &lt;br&gt;Conclusions: Medical diagnostic laboratories participating in the CQCM programmes of external laboratory control demonstrated high competence in such areas of microbiological diagnostics as the identification of pathogenic microorganisms, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and detection of resistance mechanisms.&lt;/br&gt;

Model of Optimizing Correspondence Risk-Return Marketing for Short-Term Lending

The modern credit market is actively changing under the influence of digitalization processes. Some of the drivers of these changes are financial companies that carry out, among other things, online lending. Online lending is objectively focused on short-term small loans, both payday loans (PDL) and short-term loans for SMEs. In our research, we applied a special segmentation of borrowers based on the whale-curve approach. Such segmentation leads to four segments of borrowers (A, B, C, and D) which are characterized by the specific features of profitability, risk, recurrent loan granting, and others. The model of optimal correspondence between “risk–return-marketing efforts” is elaborated in the mentioned segments. Marketing efforts are considered in the context of the optimization of the marketing-budget allocation. Our approach was essentially grounded in special scoring-tools that allow multi-layer assessment. A scheme of assessment of profitability, risk, and marketing-resources allocation for borrower’s inflow is constructed. The results can be applied to the customer relationship management (CRM) of online non-banking lenders.

A Privacy Risk Assessment Scheme for Fog Nodes in Access Control System

In the fog computing, it is difficult to satisfy the security and privacy requirement for traditional access control system, such as attribute-based access control system. Risk-based access control system can adapt to the dynamic fog environment. However, the existing risk schemes are modeled for users in majority, not for fog nodes, and the context and privacy sensitivity are rarely considered. In this article, we propose a risk assessment scheme for fog nodes in access control system. Firstly, to improve the accuracy of risk score, the risk assessment is modeled with the subject, object, and context for fog nodes; Secondly, we address the risk assessment computing module for every component. Moreover, we depict system model for risk assessment and implement its prototype system risk assessment model. In the end, the reasonability and correctness of computing model are analyzed by proving and simulation. According to the experiments, the accuracy of risk score is higher than that of the work-based access control and dynamic access control for IoT. Therefore, the feasibility and effectiveness of this scheme are proved through the experiments.

HTA234 Impact of Cost-Effectiveness Assessment Scheme (as a Part of HTA System) on Drug Prices in Japan

HTA234 Impact of Cost-Effectiveness Assessment Scheme (as a Part of HTA System) on Drug Prices in Japan