Certification Approach Research Articles

Evolution and impact of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) for determining vitamin D metabolites.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements (NIH ODS), introduced the first Standard Reference Material® (SRM) for determining vitamin D metabolites in 2009 motivated by significant concerns about the comparability and accuracy of different assays to assess vitamin D status. After 14years, a suite of five serum matrix SRMs and three calibration solution SRMs are available. Values were also assigned for vitamin D metabolites in five additional SRMs intended primarily to support measurements of other clinical diagnostic markers. Both the SRMs and the certification approach have evolved from significant exogenous serum content to primarily endogenous content and from value assignment by combining the results of multiple analytical methods to the use of measurements exclusively from reference measurement procedures (RMPs). The impact of the availability of these SRMs can be assessed by both the distribution information (sales) and by reports in the scientific literature describing their use for method validation, quality control, and research. In this review, we describe the development of these SRMs, the evolution in design and value assignment, the expansion of information reported, and SRM use in validating analytical methods and providing quality assurance within the vitamin D measurement community.

A Review of Trade-Offs in Low ILUC-Risk Certification for Biofuels—Towards an Integrated Assessment Framework

Indirect land use change (ILUC) is considered a significant challenge, resulting from an increasing demand for biomass and bioenergy. On a political level sustainability certification of biomass-derived products is discussed as one potential instrument to manage the risk of ILUC. However, extending existing schemes towards a credible and reliable certification approach to account for ILUC-risks is still an open challenge. To develop such a certification instrument, so-called “additionality practices” are gaining relevance. Such practices include measures that an individual producer can adopt to provide an amount of biomass in addition to the business-as-usual feedstock production. This applies in particular to the certification of low ILUC-risk biofuels through voluntary certification schemes recognised by the European Commission. To date, however, no studies have been conducted that examine how such schemes account for potential trade-offs that may arise from the use of additionality practices. In preparation of an integrated assessment framework for low ILUC-risk certification, this study presents a gap analysis that examines whether such trade-offs are considered already in existing sustainability certification schemes for biofuels. In this way, we have found trade-offs that are preferentially addressed by the schemes, e.g., biodiversity loss, on the one hand, and considerable gaps for certain trade-offs, e.g., resource depletion, on the other. In addition, we identified biomass cultivation on unused land as the most promising additionality practice. Most schemes already have certification instruments in place to verify the large number of trade-offs that could be identified as preferentially addressed for this additionality practice. Moreover, only a few new criteria and indicators need to be developed for the small number of gaps found for biomass cultivation on unused land. Finally, this paper recommends future work to verify the scientific evidence of existing certification instruments for the trade-offs addressed and to develop assessment approaches for the identified gaps.

Analysis of Traffic Volume and Frequency of Vannamei Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Shipments Based on a Certification Approach

Volume and frequency of shipping are crucial factors that impact the profitability and sustainability of the vannamei shrimp industry. This study aims to determine the volume of vannamei shrimp shipping traffic in Padangbai, Karangasem, Bali during the period 2019-2021 and the relationship between the volume of vannamei shrimp shipping traffic and shipping times during that period in the region. Data were obtained from fish quarantine stations, quality control and fishery product safety in Padangbai, Karangasem, Bali. The analytical method is carried out in a comparative descriptive manner which is presented through graphs that have been processed in the MS program. Excel while to find out the relationship between volume and frequency of shipping was analyzed using regression. The volume of traffic for shipping vannamei shrimp out of the Padangbai area, Karangasem, Bali was highest in 2021 (652,745,431 Juvenils) and lowest in 2019 (435,740,234 Juvenils). Data on the frequency of traffic was highest in 2020 (383 times) and lowest in 2019 (268 times). Based on the data provided, it can be seen that the average total vannamei shrimp shipment during the 2019-2021 period was around 4,702 x 104 juveniles per month. There were fluctuations in shipment volume from month to month, where in February, March, August, September and December the highest shipments were recorded of more than 5,000 x 104 juveniles, while in other months the lowest shipments were recorded of 2,929 x 104 juveniles in June. Based on these data, it can be concluded that the volume of vannamei shrimp shipments from Padangbai, Karangasem, Bali is quite stable with relatively small fluctuations. Even though there are fluctuations in shipping volume from month to month, overall, the volume of vannamei shrimp shipments from Padangbai, Karangasem, Bali is quite high.

Universal verification methodology-based airborne electronic hardware certification approach for ARINC-429

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a verification methodology for custom micro coded components designed for Avionics projects. Every electronic hardware which will be developed for an aircraft must be designed with the compliance of DO-254 processes. Requirements are the key elements of the aviation. All the requirements must be covered by the design to be considered as completed. Therefore, verification of the custom micro coded components against requirements should be comprehensively addressed. The verification using the manual testing approach is less preferable, as humans can possibly make mistakes. Therefore, the most used verification method today is the automated simulation.Design/methodology/approachThe industry has developed a common methodology for generating automated testbenches by following the standardized guideline. This methodology is named as the universal verification methodology (UVM). In this paper, the verification study of ARINC-429 data bus digital design is presented to describe the DO-254 verification process using the UVM.FindingsThe results are supported with functional coverage and code coverage in addition to the assertions. It is observed that the design worked correctly.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study comprehensively describing the DO-254 verification process and demonstrating it by the UVM application of ARINC-429 on programmable logic devices.

International Governance of Civilian AI: A Jurisdictional Certification Approach

International Governance of Civilian AI: A Jurisdictional Certification Approach

Determinants of the willingness to buy products certified by omics technology: differences between regular and occasional consumers of organic food

Consumers’ demand for organic food has increased in the last years, together with a growing request for food authentication and safety. Omics technologies represent a viable analytical strategy to respond to such needs, strengthen food safety information transmission between consumers and industry, and differentiate between organic and conventional products. However, little is known about consumers’ perception of such a novel certification approach. The present research ought to provide insights into the perspectives of consumers, exploring the antecedents of their intention to purchase organic vegetables certified through omics technologies and differentiating between regular and occasional consumers of organic foods. Data were collected from a representative sample of 807 Italian respondents who completed a self-report questionnaire, and Structural Equation Modeling was performed to analyze the data. Results show that several factors influence consumers’ approach to omics technology, among which trust in actors in the food industry, attitudes towards the technology and environmental food concerns. In addition, the study drew attention to the differential path impacting consumers with distinct eating habits. Indeed, the degree of importance attributed to food in one’s life and the interest towards innovative food are significant predictors of the intention to adopt omics technology only for people consuming organic products with higher frequency. Also, trust in industry actors follows a different path for regular and occasional organic food consumers. The present study sheds light on consumers’ perspective on omics technologies, a relatively unexplored topic. Moreover, it allowed to differentiate consumers based on their organic consumption habits, which has been rarely done in previous research. The evidence collected suggests the need for tailored communication programs to stimulate the adoption of omics technologies and foster consumers’ confidence in novel food technologies.

Certification of machine learning algorithms for safe-life assessment of landing gear

This paper provides information on current certification of landing gear available for use in the aerospace industry. Moving forward, machine learning is part of structural health monitoring, which is being used by the aircraft industry. The non-deterministic nature of deep learning algorithms is regarded as a hurdle for certification and verification for use in the highly-regulated aerospace industry. This paper brings forth its regulation requirements and the emergence of standardisation efforts. To be able to validate machine learning for safety critical applications such as landing gear, the safe-life fatigue assessment needs to be certified such that the remaining useful life may be accurately predicted and trusted. A coverage of future certification for the usage of machine learning in safety-critical aerospace systems is provided, taking into consideration both the risk management and explainability for different end user categories involved in the certification process. Additionally, provisional use case scenarios are demonstrated, in which risk assessments and uncertainties are incorporated for the implementation of a proposed certification approach targeting offline machine learning models and their explainable usage for predicting the remaining useful life of landing gear systems based on the safe-life method.

Identifying Urban Agriculture Needs and Challenges for the Implementation of Green Labeling in Xochimilco, Mexico

The current global situation with a dominant economic development model producing social inequality, increment and intensification of urbanization has generated severe environmental degradation and an associated increase in the likelihood of pandemics. New strategies that strengthen sustainable food production are urgent in highly unequal countries as Mexico. In Mexico City, the most populated city of the country, a wetland system, named Xochimilco, still holds chinampas, a unique and ingenious food system dating from pre-Hispanic times. These days chinampas are the best example of urban sustainable agriculture production. Unfortunately, this system is under threat due to urbanization and industrial land-use changes. Among the strategies to promote sustainable modes of production and consumption is eco or green labeling, consisting of a voluntary environmental certification approach, and marketing and advertising tool, that can change producers' and consumers' behavior toward long-term sustainability. Although widely used, the benefits of green labels for producers are not always realized. This study aimed to learn more about the agro-ecological production process and commercialization challenges in Xochimilco and San Gregorio Atlapulco in Southern Mexico City to understand chinampa producers' needs and determine whether a green label can offer solutions in this vulnerable socio-ecological system, particularly suffering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemics. For this, a literature review and producers' mental model analysis based on network theory, were developed. Results show that non-resolved issues such as commercialization problems, consumers' unwillingness to pay a fair price, loss of healthy soil, and degraded water quality used for irrigation persist and can affect the benefits of a green label including to improve chinampa production and farmers' income. Farmers' current necessities comprised increasing profits, receiving financial advice to set prices of agro-ecological vegetables and production costs, among others. Under the current production and commercialization scenarios complying with the assessment cost of certification will be difficult for most producers; then, implementing the green label would probably fail to fulfill the benefits. Attending to former and persistent conflicts and satisfying chinampa producers' neglected necessities are essential before implementing any program.

Edge-cloud resource federation for sustainable cities

As cloud computing becomes the dominant mechanism for delivery of electronic services, significant recent effort has focused on certifying cloud services to ensure their compliance with security and privacy standards (such as GDPR). Assessing the benefit of using a particular cloud service, especially if such a service is being offered by providers that may be new to the cloud marketplace, remains a challenge. Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) provides a certification approach that associates a ranking to providers based on their capability assessment using a “cloud control matrix”. A provider can make a self-assessment, or an assessment can be undertaken by a third party. The intention is to increase user trust in a provider based on their rating using this methodology. This work investigates whether a similar certification methodology can be applied to edge resources, especially if these edge resources are combined with cloud services in a “smart cities” context. Can a CSA-like approach also be used to increase trust in use of edge resources? How would the CSA methodology need to change to support this type of assessment, and how useful is such an approach likely to be in practice? We propose a risk assessment methodology that can be used to address these concerns, and evaluate it in a practical application using both edge and cloud computing resources. • “ Smartainability ” - a strategy to assess how sustainable smart cities are as a result of smart technology. • Smart services must ensure their compliance with security and privacy standards (such as GDPR). • Cloud-Edge-IoT resources differ in their capability, security and availability profiles — making reliance on them risk prone. • Trust can be established across an ensemble of “smart” devices and clouds to support “risk-informed” interventions.

CC-CERT: A Probabilistic Approach to Certify General Robustness of Neural Networks

In safety-critical machine learning applications, it is crucial to defend models against adversarial attacks --- small modifications of the input that change the predictions. Besides rigorously studied $\ell_p$-bounded additive perturbations, semantic perturbations (e.g. rotation, translation) raise a serious concern on deploying ML systems in real-world. Therefore, it is important to provide provable guarantees for deep learning models against semantically meaningful input transformations. In this paper, we propose a new universal probabilistic certification approach based on Chernoff-Cramer bounds that can be used in general attack settings. We estimate the probability of a model to fail if the attack is sampled from a certain distribution. Our theoretical findings are supported by experimental results on different datasets.

Certifying DFA Bounds for Recognition and Separation

The automation of decision procedures makes certification essential. We suggest to use determinacy of turn-based two-player games with regular winning conditions in order to generate certificates for the number of states that a deterministic finite automaton (DFA) needs in order to recognize a given language. Given a language L and a bound k, recognizability of L by a DFA with k states is reduced to a game between Prover and Refuter. The interaction along the game then serves as a certificate. A certificate generated by Prover consists of a DFA with at most k states. A certificate generated by Refuter consists of a faulty attempt to define the required DFA. We compare the length of offline certificates, which are generated with no interaction between Prover and Refuter, and online certificates, which are based on such an interaction, and are thus shorter. We show that our approach is useful also for certification of separability of regular languages by a DFA of a given size. Unlike DFA minimization, which can be solved in polynomial time, separation is NP-complete, and thus the certification approach is essential. In addition, we prove NP-completeness of a strict version of separation.

ShrimpChain: A blockchain-based transparent and traceable framework to enhance the export potentiality of Bangladeshi shrimp

Despite substantial progress achieved with shrimp production during the last three and a half decades, growth of shrimp export remains minimal in Bangladesh. In the absence of effective traceability and transparency practices, a wide range of malpractice occurs both at the production and post-harvest stages. Traditional paper-based record-keeping methods for the shrimp supply chain are disparate and, therefore, cannot provide efficient traceability capacity and holistic view of the supply chain. These limit the identification of any issues in earlier juncture to proactively ensure food safety, best practice, and good governance. Addressing this multiplexed challenge, we present here ShrimpChain, a public-private hybrid blockchain-based conceptual framework. Focusing on the export market and utilizing existing technologies, the conceptual framework addresses the traceability, transparency, and certification challenges associated with shrimp export. In this framework, from the post-larva purchasing to the final packaging stage, relevant data for every stage will be entered by the associated actors via mobile/web app or Internet of Things devices to the blockchain network. Data authentication will be achieved by a novel approach of incorporating community consensus in conjunction with the machine-derived data entry timestamping method. Instead of the traditional central and endpoint certification approach, we propose a distributed and accumulative score-based certification approach that will grade packaged shrimps according to the completeness and accuracy of the authenticated data entered during different stages. Such distributed approach of certification will enhance not only food safety but also the quality and compliance to best practices. Most importantly, engaging shrimp farmers in the safety and quality assurance as well as to the certification process will empower them to have better control over the market and incentive to produce high-quality shrimp for high-value market.

The Potential of Harnessing Real-Time Occupancy Data for Improving Energy Performance of Activity-Based Workplaces

Currently, the available studies on the prediction of building energy performance and real occupancy data are typically characterized by aggregated and averaged occupancy patterns or large thermal zones of reference. Despite the increasing diffusion of smart energy management systems and the growing availability of longitudinal data regarding occupancy, these two domains rarely inform each other. This research aims at understanding the potential of employing real-time occupancy data to identify better cooling strategies for activity-based-working (ABW)-supportive offices and reduce the overall energy consumption. It presents a case study comparing the energy performance of the office when different resolutions of occupancy and thermal zoning are applied, ranging from the standard energy certification approach to real-time occupancy patterns. For the first time, one year of real-time occupancy data at the desk resolution, captured through computer logs and Bluetooth devices, is used to investigate this issue. Results show that the actual cooling demand is 9% lower than predicted, unveiling the energy-saving potential to be achieved from HVAC systems for non-assigned seating environments. This research demonstrates that harnessing real-time occupancy data for demand-supply cooling management at a fine-grid resolution is an efficient strategy to reduce cooling consumption and increase workers’ comfort. It also emphasizes the need for more data and monitoring campaigns for the definition of more accurate and robust energy management strategies.

Better social welfare through sustainable land-based production: assessing the potency of jurisdiction certification on the forestry sector

Certification and pledge have long been the primary mechanisms to safeguard unsustainable forest exploitations and maintain the social welfare of forest communities by providing better access to the market. However, commodity-based certification and pledges have been criticised for their limited success in safeguarding the social welfare of the forest community. A newly developed certification scheme, the jurisdictional certification approach, offers an alternative to sustainable resources use. It promises a more comprehensive alternative for all stakeholders operating in a given jurisdiction and a more substantial government role. The literature review indicates that although Indonesia’s jurisdictional approach pilot project shows promising results in overcoming traditional certifications’ drawbacks, the actors’ acceptance within commodity chains is limited. The adoption requires intensive collaboration among government, private sectors and civil society. The government is expected to streamline the regulatory process within the jurisdiction, while the private sectors and civil society provide material and human resource supports. This process is reliant upon effective communication among the private sector and the different levels of government.

Slow-growth damage tolerance for fatigue after impact in FRP composites: Why current research won’t get us there

Using the slow-growth certification approach for damage tolerance of composite aircraft structures has the potential to reduce their weight. Applying this approach requires that damage growth is slow, stable, and predictable. However, currently available methods do not allow for sufficiently accurate predictions, due to knowledge gaps related to damage characterisation, prediction of damage growth, and prediction of final failure.This article highlights these knowledge gaps, discusses the limitations of the current state of the art and research approaches, and identifies possible ways forward.

PALM OIL INDUSTRY: CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENT

The agricultural industry has been the backbone of Sabah's economy for decades. The industry has eradicated poverty and supported connectivity between the rural with the urban area. At the same time, it has undergone numerous shifts of cash crops to sustain the economy with the oil palm as the latest crop. The palm oil industry has both novelty and challenges to thrive with the demand for sustainability. For the mandatory certification of Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil, growers, mainly smallholders, faced restrictions on the certification process despite incentives from the federal government. This has put a setback to the effort by the palm oil industry in their commitment to being sustainable. In this study, the researchers plan to examine the palm oil industry's certification approach on the smallholders on their way to achieving a sustainable palm oil industry based on a case study approach. Therefore, the methodology for the study was using content analysis on public-domain literature found through electronic databases encompasses publications dating from 2000 to 2020. The study found that the acceptance and trust in smallholders' certification process are in correspond with the incomprehension and the certification process approach.

Certification as support for resilience? Behind the curtains of a certification body \u2014 a qualitative study

BackgroundCertification in healthcare often involves independent private sector bodies performing legally required or voluntary external assurance activities. These certification practices are embedded in international standards founded in traditional beliefs about rational and predictable processes for quality and safety improvement. Certification can affect organizational and cultural changes, support collaboration and encourage improvement that may be conducive to resilient performance. This study explores whether ISO 9001 quality management system certification can support resilience in healthcare, by looking at characteristics in the objectives, methods, and practice of certification from a certification body’s perspective.MethodsOne of Norway’s four certification bodies in healthcare was studied, using an explorative embedded single-case design. The study relies on document analysis of the international standards and associated guidances for the performance of certification bodies and thematic analyses of data from 60 h of observations of auditors in three certification processes and nine qualitative interviews with managers and personnel from the certification body. Results from the analyses were compared to identify discrepancies between the written and perceived certification approach and practice.ResultsStandards and guidances for certification embed an elasticity between formal and consistent assessments of nonconformities in organizations and emphasize holistic approaches that brings added value. Auditors were then left with the latitude to navigate their auditing strategy during interaction with the auditees. Members of the certification body perceived and practiced a holistic and flexible auditing approach using opportunities to share knowledge, empower and make guidance for improvement.ConclusionsISO certification expects structures and systems to ensure consistent and objective certification processes. At the same time, it embodies a latitude to adopt flexible and context-specific certification approaches, as demonstrated by a certification body in this study, to give added value to the certified organizations. Such an ISO 9001 certification approach may support resilient performance in healthcare by nurturing the potential to respond and learn. These results are important for further development of methods that certification bodies use in the auditing encounter.

Investigation of real-life operating patterns of wood-burning appliances using stack temperature data

ABSTRACTA study was undertaken to identify patterns of consumer use of outdoor wood boilers or outdoor wood furnaces (technically referred to as outdoor wood-fired hydronic heaters (OWHHs)) and indoor wood stoves (IWSs) to inform the development of performance testing protocols that reflect real-life operating conditions. These devices are manually fed, and their usage protocols are a function of a number of variables, including user habits, household characteristics, and environmental factors. In this study, researchers logged the stack wall temperatures of 4 OWHH and 20 IWS units in the states of New York and Washington over two heating seasons. Stack wall temperature is an indicator of changes in combustion modes. Two algorithms were developed to identify usage modes and cold and warm start refueling events from the stack wall temperature time series. A linear correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of heat demand on usage patterns. The results and methods presented here will inform the cataloging of typical operational patterns of OWHHs and IWSs as a step in the development of performance testing procedures that represent actual in-home usage patterns.Implications: Current US regulatory programs for residential wood heating use a certification program to assess emissions and efficiency performance. Testing under this program uses a test that burns 100% of a single, standardized wood fuel charge to assess performance at different steady-state load conditions. This study assessed in-field operational patterns to determine if the current certification approach accurately characterized typical homeowner use patterns. The data from this study can be used to inform revisions to testing methods to increase certification test comparability between lab and field performance.

A study on green cosmetic brand equity and purchase intentions

The concept of sustainable development has recently become a significant issue among industrial, academic, and government sectors. As consumers have more green awareness of products, the markets of natural and organic products set to be flourish, the organic certification approach is then expected to be a crucial role between consumers and green brands. For the green cosmetic brands, it might bring more benefits to the brand than just being a proof of organic ingredients. The study conducted a quantitative questionnaire survey which was developed for this study and based on the four components of brand equity: brand associations, brand loyalty, perceived quality and brand awareness. Taking COSMOS-standard as an example, the study explores the influence it might have on green cosmetic brand equity and purchase intentions. Using snowball sampling for data collection, the total number of respondents was 867 and the number of valid questionnaires was 623. The statistical software SPSS 22.0 was used for the analysis. The results indicate that COSMOS-Standard organic certification has positive impacts on brand equity and purchase intention; significant differences on brand association and brand loyalty are caused by different disposable income; the effects on improving purchase intention works better on toiletries than facial care products. The cosmetic brands can see the results as suggestions on brand management and marketing strategies.

Evaluating Processes to Certify Mobile Applications During Developer Relations Activities

In a Mobile Software Ecosystem (MSECO), the software organizations have opened up their structures to third-party developers aiming to reach goals to ensure the MSECO is working properly, such as increasing number of users, mobile applications (apps) and developers. Thus, the management organization (keystone) by their Developer Relations (DevRel) teams must restructure its processes to support third-party developers and create ways to attract the development of apps. The development of apps during events planned and conducted by DevRel team (e.g., hackathons or developer conferences) requires an approach that allows developers to achieve the expected performance into the MSECO. However, there is a quality contribution barrier, the App Store, the App Store’s criteria do not guarantee that apps certified by these criteria have good performance in number of downloads and positive reviews into the MSECO. Aims: We present an evaluation of a mobile certification approach for the MSECO context, called MSECO-CERT (Mobile Software ECOsystem app CERTification), in terms of mobile application downloads, ratings and changes in developers’ attitudes. MSECO-CERT comprises support (MSECO-SUP) and development (MSECO-DEV) processes. We describe two empirical studies: feasibility and observational. MSECO-CERT produced a growth coefficient of downloads (363%) and average user ratings (28%) when compared to an ad hoc approach. We observed that the DevRel practitioners (i.e., developer evangelists) and most of the developers (70%) considered MSECO-SUP and MSECO-DEV processes easy to use. They indicate that they would use both processes in the future. The results indicate that a keystone needs to invest in the analysis of their certification processes considering the ecosystem elements and also create mechanisms that allow monitoring the effect of DevRel activities. Our studies also helped to evolve MSECO-CERT by refining roles, activities and artifacts.