Certification Rules Research Articles

Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) Networks

Background Certification rules of point-of-care testing (POCT) require periodic evaluation of performance of POCT devices using control material different from that used daily. The aim of this report was to verify the reliability and the labor required for a quality assessment program operated by the laboratory. Methods Two pools (L1 and L2) of serum were obtained by collecting residual materials from inpatients. The glucose value of the pools was established by a central laboratory method (ADVIA 2400, Siemens). The values for the 2 pools were L1 = 70.3 ± 0.02 and L2 = 296 ± 0.05 mg/dL). The pools were also tested for viral serologies. Both samples were analyzed on 2 different days (at least 1 month apart) on 50 POCT devices (Accucheck Inform2, Roche Diagnostics). The overall results were used for analytical performance evaluation. The labor required for the program was recorded. Results Mean values for all of the POCT instruments were: L1 = 80.23 ± 1.85 and L2 = 308.3 ± 8.3. Bias between the laboratory and the POC devices were L1 = 6.59% and L2 = 2.03%. No total error more than 15% was observed; 1 data point showed a total error greater than 10%; and 7 samples showed a total error greater than 5%. Labor required was 15 minutes for laboratory staff and 7 ± 5 minutes for nurses. Discussion Overall comparison confirms a good correlation between POC and the laboratory, although a bias greater than 5% may be expected for low values. Interdevice variability and the number of samples with standard errors greater than 5% results were very low. An evaluation of the accuracy of POCT instruments can be performed by the central laboratory. The main difficulties are related to sample selections and delivery. A total of 11:40 labor hours for nurses and 25 hours for the laboratory operators was required for monitoring 50 instruments.

Commentary

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has proposed to amend the certification rules for half mask air-purifying particulate respirators. The amendment would require the certified respirator to fit a minimum percentage of the intended users. The fail/pass rate for a respirator fitting a worker population has not been part of the certification process for particulate respirators since 1995. The amendment would also add a new requirement for the manufacturer to inform whom the respirator is intended to fit.

Coccinelle: Tool support for automated CERT C Secure Coding Standard certification

Writing correct C programs is well-known to be hard, not least due to the many low-level language features intrinsic to C. Writing secure C programs is even harder and, at times, seemingly impossible. To improve this situation the US CERT has developed and published a set of coding standards, the “CERT C Secure Coding Standard”, that (currently) enumerates 122 rules and 180 recommendations, with the aim of making C programs (more) secure. The large number of rules and recommendations makes automated tool support essential for certifying that a given system complies with the standard.In this paper, we report on ongoing work on adapting the Coccinelle bug-finder and program transformation tool, into a tool for analysing and certifying C programs according to, e.g., the CERT C Secure Coding Standard or the MISRA (the Motor Industry Software Reliability Association) C standard. We argue that such a tool must be highly adaptable and customisable to each software project as well as to the certification rules required by a given standard.Furthermore, we present current work on integrating Clang (the LLVM C front-end) as a program analysis component into Coccinelle. Program analysis information, e.g., from data-flow or pointer analysis, is necessary both for more precise compliance checking, i.e., with fewer false positives, and also for enabling more complete checking, i.e., with fewer false negatives, e.g., resulting from pointer aliasing.

Secure inspection of web transactions

Web transactions are vulnerable for attacks where malicious software has infected a browser or where a root certifier has been compromised. As a countermeasure, we intercept HTTPS traffic in order to authorise certifiers as well as to inspect, verify and complement transactions securely. The interception and inspection is done in a trusted device, outside potentially compromised PC and browser. We propose a novel and flexible mechanism for controlling interception dynamically with directives embedded into HTML documents. We limit the authority of root certifiers over critical services with site-specific certification rules. We propose different models for realising the interceptor concept. The feasibility of the proposals is demonstrated by implementing and deploying interception into a USB gadget and a mobile phone.

Clang and Coccinelle: Synergising program analysis tools for CERT C Secure Coding Standard certification

Writing correct C programs is well-known to be hard, not least due to the many language features intrinsic to C. Writing secure C programs is even harder and, at times, seemingly impossible. To improve on this situation the US CERT has developed and published a set of coding standards, the “CERT C Secure Coding Standard”, that (in the current version) enumerates 118 rules and 182 recommendations with the aim of making C programs (more) secure. The large number of rules and recommendations makes automated tool support essential for certifying that a given system is in compliance with the standard. In this paper we report on ongoing work on integrating two state of the art analysis tools, Clang and Coccinelle, into a combined tool well suited for analysing and certifying C programs according to, e.g., the CERT C Secure Coding standard or the MISRA (the Motor Industry Software Reliability Assocation) C standard. We further argue that such a tool must be highly adaptable and customisable to each software project as well as to the certification rules required by a given standard. Clang is the C frontend for the LLVM compiler/virtual machine project which includes a comprehensive set of static analyses and code checkers. Coccinelle is a program transformation tool and bug-finder developed originally for the Linux kernel, but has been successfully used to find bugs in other Open Source projects such as WINE and OpenSSL.

Multi-resolution terrain depiction on an embedded 2D/3D synthetic vision system

Many of today's and tomorrow's aviation applications demand accurate and reliable digital terrain elevation databases. Particularly, to enhance a pilot's situation awareness with future 3D Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS), accurate, reliable, and hi-resolution terrain databases are required to offer a realistic and reliable terrain depiction. On the other hand, optimized or reduced terrain models are necessary to ensure real-time rendering and computing performance. In this paper a method for adaptive terrain meshing and depiction for SVS is presented. The initial data set is decomposed by using a wavelet like transform, resulting in terrain coefficients and delta values to represent the terrain data in an optimized multi-resolution data structure. By examining the coefficients and delta values, an adaptive surface approximation for various Level-of-Detail is determined at runtime. Constraints for the Level-of-Detail approximation (like max. approximation error or degree of topography preservation) can be assigned and changed at runtime. This results in an adaptive terrain depiction suitable to the current operational SVS display requirements. Additionally, the dyadic scaling of the transform is used to build a hierarchical quad-tree representation for the terrain data. This representation enhances fast interactive computations and real-time rendering methods. The multi-resolution terrain concept is integrated into a hi-level certifiable 2D/3D scene graph rendering system. It runs on an aviation certifiable embedded rendering graphics board. The optimized combination of multi-resolution terrain data, scene graph organization, and graphics board allows it to handle dynamically terrain models up to 3 arc second post spacing. The system and data processing acknowledges standard certification rules for terrain database requirements, aeronautical data processing and software development (DO-178B, DO-254, DO-200A, and DO-276).

COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND HIGHER EDUCATION: A JOINT VENTURE

The shortage of K-12 teachers across the nation has prompted the establishment of new teacher preparation venues. A unique partnership has been formed between a community college and a four-year institution to provide teacher preparation and a Master's degree. Historically, only four-year institutions of higher education have been authorized to prepare K-12 teachers. However, in an unprecedented move, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has changed the certification rules to recognize community colleges as an additional venue for providing professional educational preparation. Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) was the first community college in Texas, as well as in the nation, to be authorized to prepare teachers. Texas A&M University--Commerce, with its strong history of professional education programs, has modified university procedures to consider the awarding of graduate credit for experiential learning in order to meet the emerging state educational needs. As a result, A&M--Commerce has joined with CCCCD to provide a bridge from the community college K-12 teacher certification program to graduate degrees from the four-year institution.

Examining the effect of exit separation on aircraft evacuation performance during 90-second certification trials using evacuation modelling techniques

AbstractThis paper examines the influence of exit separation, exit availability and seating configuration on aircraft evacuation efficiency and evacuation time. The purpose of this analysis is to explore how these parameters influence the 60-foot exit separation requirement found in aircraft certification rules. The analysis makes use of the airEXODUS evacuation model and is based on a typical wide-body aircraft cabin section involving two pairs of Type-A exits located at either end of the section with a maximum permissible loading of 220 passengers located between the exits. The analysis reveals that there is a complex relationship between exit separation and evacuation efficiency. A main finding of this work is that for the cabin section examined, with a maximum passenger load of 220 and under certification conditions, exit separations up to 170ft will result in approximately constant total evacuation times and average personal evacuation times. This practical exit separation threshold is decreased to 114ft if another combination of exits is selected. While other factors must also be considered when determining maximum allowable exit separations, these results suggest it is not possible to mandate a maximum exit separation without taking into consideration exit type, exit availability and aircraft configuration.

Certification des automatismes numériques dans les transports guidés : projets européens CASCADE et ACRuDA

This paper presents current work which deals with the certification of automatic train protection systems according to European standards and has three main sections. The first deals with the current situation as regards third party conformity certification on the basis of a reference document. The role of notified assessors and the requirements of European standards such as Cenelec 50126, 128 and 129 are discussed and the essential elements of the European high speed train interoperability directive are given. The second section summarizes the results of the Cascade project (Certification and Assessment of Safety-Critical Application Development) which is part of the Esprit III programme. This project deals with the harmonization of the various evaluation and certification approaches for safety critical software in railway applications. Its aim is to formulate a shared evaluation method to enable safety critical software to be certified by any notified assessor in a State in the European Union with the same criteria and rules, and in accordance with applicable European standards. The third section of the paper presents the Acruda project (Assessment and Certification Rules for Digital Architectures) which supplements the work on software carried out in Cascade. This project concerns the certification of hardware architectures and makes it possible to implement certification rules for the computers used to ensure the safety of train control systems.

EC standards process: Why U.S. firms should participate

AbstractNew European Community product standards and certification rules will have a major impact on US. sales there in coming years. With stronger European growth and the lower US. dollar creating broad opportunities for US. exporters, businesspeople must actively participate in the standards‐setting process by commenting upon technical positions and draft proposals, both in the national standards organizations and in Europe‐wide standards bodies.

The dilemma of measuring particulate emissions from domestic wood burning heaters

The concern for measurement of particulate emissions from domestic wood burning heaters is relatively recent. A review of literature has shown that a variety of methods were, and are being, used by different research groups working in this field. Some of the more common methods are described and discussed in this paper. The State of Oregon adopted Woodstove Certification Rules on 8 June, 1984, which also specified a test method for measuring emissions, thus becoming the first state in North America to have a reference standard. The Oregon Method, which is just a modified version of EPA Method 5, however, lacks the credibility of universal acceptance. For a reference standard, the dilution tunnel method proposed as a draft standard method by ASTM ranks high on the merit list. The Condar Emissions Testing System, also, has the potential of becoming quite popular as an effective tool for predicting compliance with potential emission standards and for performance evaluation and design development of wood heaters.

The Underused Benefit: Medicare's Coverage of Nursing Home Care

lower cost alternative to extended hospital stays. Because Medicare policies impede beneficiaries' access to covered services, however, patients often cannot substitute nursing home for hospital care and the program forgoes intended savings. Medicare's benefits for nursing home care differ from all its other benefits. Limited by law to short-term postacute care, Medicare-covered services account for only a small portion of the care nursing homes provide. Hence Medicare depends on service for a nursing home industry oriented toward long-term non-Medicare patients. Medicare has never recognized its limited purchasing power. On the contrary, Medicare's payment, certification, and claims processing rules depart from predominant industry practices. Medicare's payment methods acknowledge neither the costs of the more intensive care its patients sometimes require nor the costs of satisfying its particular rules. Consequently, many nursing homes (about a third) that could participate in Medicare do not, and many participating nursing homes limit their Medicare service.

A review of the significance of buried legume seeds with particular reference to New Zealand agriculture

Abstract Studies of buried legume seed populations in temperate grassland are reviewed, including the origin and dissemination of buried seeds, techniques of extraction from soil samples, and quantities of seeds found in pasture soils, with emphasis on New Zealand. The effects of management practices on levels of buried legume seeds are discussed and the problem of buried seeds in legume seed production crops is considered with reference to current seed certification rules.

Noise of advanced subsonic air transport systems

In aviation we are concerned with vehicles which, for the majority of their journey time, are well separated from the community by a vertical distance of some 5-8 miles. Over most of their flight they are the cleanest and quietest form of transport. The aircraft noise problem therefore is confined to the regions around the terminal area. The object of this paper is to define aircraft noise sources and to discuss means by which the terminal noise of advanced air-transport systems can be limited, in order to minimize the noise nuisance. From the mid-1950’s to the mid-19603 there had been a steady build-up in the noise of commercial aircraft operations due to the introduction of jet transports and the steady increase in both aircraft size and number of movements. In the early part of the last decade public reaction to the noise situation was slow. Jet transports were seen as an advance in technology and many were proud to be associated with their introduction. Although manufacturers were aware of the undesirable noise characteristics of the jet engine, technological advances were aimed more at improving thrust performance and cruise efficiency in order to achieve significant increases in range. The first step towards noise improvement was the introduction of the low by-pass/turbofan engines in the early 1960’s, which although quieter, did not make a significant impact on the noise scene. However, the introduction of the advanced high by-pass ratio engines which power today’s wide-bodied airliners has improved the noise situation dramatically (see Figure 1). Initially the use of high by-pass ratios was probably aimed more at the improvement of performance and economics than at noise reduction. However, as time went by and the environmental lobby became stronger, the emphasis on design for low noise increased. Regulatory bodies like the FAA and ICAO formulated noise requirements and certification rules which reflected public pressures to curtail the aircraft noise.

A brief review of air transport noise

Flight vehicles are characterized according to their manner of operation and type of propulsion system; and their associated sources of noise are identified. Available noise reduction technology as it relates to engine cycle design and to power plant component design is summarized. Such components as exhaust jets, fans, propellers, rotors, airflow-surface interactions and reciprocating engine exhausts are discussed, along with their noise reduction potentials. Significant aircraft noise reductions are noted to have been accomplished by the application of available technology in support of noise certification rules. Further noise reductions to meet more stringent future noise regulations will require substantial additional technology developments. Improved analytical prediction methods, and well controlled validation experiments supported by advanced design aeroacoustic facilities, are required as a basis for an effective integrated systems approach to aircraft noise control.

A Brief Review of Air Transport Noise

Abstract Flight vehicles are characterized according to their manner of operation and type of propulsion system; and their associated sources of noise are identified. Available noise reduction technology as it relates to engine cycle design and to power plant component design is summarized. Such components as exhaust jets, fans, propellers, rotors, airflow-surface interactions and reciprocating engine exhausts are discussed, along with their noise reduction potentials. Significant aircraft noise reductions are noted to have been accomplished by the application of available technology in support of noise certification rules. Further noise reductions to meet more stringent future noise regulations will require substantial additional technology developments. Improved analytical prediction methods, and well controlled validation experiments supported by advanced design aeroacoustic facilities, are required as a basis for an effective integrated systems approach to aircraft noise control.

Allied health manpower--solution or problem?

Abstract Although there are over 3 1/2 million health workers in the United States, effective use of these workers is compromised by several factors. Manpower analysis and inventories have produced an inappropriate concern with numbers rather than with actual job content, flexibility and development. Decisions about manpower have too often been influenced by physicians, who are more aware of individual rather than broad institutional needs. The customs of the health professions and licensure and certification rules have combined to leave administrators little leeway to manipulate the work force. If nonphysician medical manpower is to improve the health system, tasks rather than numbers must be studied, management must be given more authority, and professionalism must be curtailed.

The Characteristics and Problems Associated with V/S.T.O.L. Operations

A study of the main parameters to be resolved for civil V/S.T.O.L. aircraft, the necessity for all weather operation, the airport requirements and the competition from other forms of transport. FROM a choice of a wide range of V/S.T.O.L. applications, this paper is concerned with the civil aircraft aspects. It deals with the main parameters to be studied in resolving V.T.O.L. and S.T.O.L. aircraft characteristics, the weighting of these toward favourable performance and to meeting the proposed certification rules for this form of transport. The part to be played by electronics in all weather operations is also discussed. Competition from surface transport, and V/S.T.O.L. airport requirements are referred to, and some general characteristics of the many different aircraft configurations are discussed. Some conclusions are reached suggesting the direction and weighting of future work.

Is uniformity of potato seed certification rules possible and desirable?

To renew the emphasis on the important phases: (1) Improvement of certification under competition has not culminated in uniformity. (2) National legislation cannot be carried out if based on tuber inspection alone, but requires a knowledge of the history of the crop. (3) Neither uniform rules nor all the knowledge that we now have would result in a uniform product from an attempt to inspect growing fields in different States. (4) Proof that certified seed is better on the average than uncertified seed does not prove that certain differences in rules cause certain differences in results. (5) National policing against individual offenders is not necessarily more effective than local policing. (6) At present a change to conformity promises a loss of advantages now enjoyed by Maine certified seed growers, and through that, a loss to the buyers of Maine certified seed.