Development Of Future Standards Research Articles

Explainable machine learning: Compressive strength prediction of FRP-confined concrete column

Fibre reinforced polymers (FRP) are widely used for the strengthening of beams, slabs and columns due to their light weight and high strength. Compared to the traditional methods like steel cages or steel jackets, it reduces the time and economic cost significantly. This study focuses on the prediction of the compressive strength of FRP-confined concrete columns, which is influenced by multiple parameters. Initially, through experimental observations and the analysis of parameter mechanisms, the key parameters affecting compressive strength were identified. Six prediction models, namely linear regression, ridge regression, decision tree, random forest, and eXtreme Gradient Boosting, were subsequently constructed and evaluated to determine the optimal machine learning model. A comparison between the machine learning models and mathematical models was conducted. Furthermore, SHapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) analysis was performed to ascertain the parameter importance and sensitivity of the machine learning model, and the analysis results were compared with existing models. The results indicate that compared to other machine learning and mathematical models, the eXtreme Gradient Boosting model demonstrates superior robustness and accuracy. The thickness and elastic modulus of FRP, as well as the concrete strength, are identified as crucial parameters that positively influence compressive strength. The relationships between the former two parameters and compressive strength follow a logarithmic function, while the relationship between concrete strength and compressive strength is approximately linear. These findings hold implications for the future development of codes and standards.

Timely Yet Long Overdue: Canadian Standards for Long-Term Care Homes.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted systemic problems in Canadian long-term care (LTC). While high mortality rates in LTC received significant attention, the pandemic also took an enormous toll on mental health of LTC residents, where mental health conditions, including cognitive disorders, are already much higher than in other community settings. The pandemic resulted in a renewed interest in improving quality of care in LTC and led to the recent development of several National Standards of Canada. The newly available Standards set ambitious targets, but many of the standards are practical and essential to moving beyond a focus on safety and physical needs in LTC and towards one that supports residents as whole persons. While the standards support good mental health indirectly, there is a need to recognize mental health in these settings as a fundamental human right and essential to quality of life, and for this to be reflected in ongoing and future standards development. Ensuring existing and forthcoming National Standards are meaningfully implemented, in whole or in part, will require extensive efforts at multiple levels. The guidance provided by Canadian Standards will shape this transformative process, necessitating aligned federal and provincial investments and policies, and stakeholder engagement to bring about the envisioned high-quality care.

Challenges of Air Pollution and Health in East Asia.

Air pollution has been a serious environmental and public health issue worldwide, particularly in Asian countries. There have been significant increases in epidemiological studies on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone pollution in East Asia, and an in-depth review of epidemiological evidence is urgent. Thus, we carried out a systematic review of the epidemiological research on PM2.5 and ozone pollution in East Asia released in recent years. Recent studies have indicated that PM2.5 and ozone are the most detrimental air pollutants to human health, resulting in substantial disease burdens for Asian populations. Many epidemiological studies of PM2.5 and ozone have been mainly performed in three East Asian countries (China, Japan, and South Korea). We derived the following summary findings: (1) both short-term and long-term exposure to PM2.5 and ozone could raise the risks of mortality and morbidity, emphasizing the need for continuing improvements in air quality in East Asia; (2) the long-term associations between PM2.5 and mortality in East Asia are comparable to those observed in Europe and North America, whereas the short-term associations are relatively smaller in magnitude; and (3) further cohort and intervention studies are required to yield robust and precise evidence that can promote evidence-based policymaking in East Asia. This updated review presented an outline of the health impacts of PM2.5 and ozone in East Asia, which may be beneficial for the development of future regulatory policies and standards, as well as for designing subsequent investigations.

Study on formulation and revision of standard limit for formaldehyde in the "Standards for indoor air quality（GB/T 18883-2022）" in China

Formaldehyde, as an important pollutant in indoor air, has always been of great concern. In the newly issued "Standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022)", the standard limit of formaldehyde has been restricted to 0.08 mg/m3. In order to better promote the implementation and application of this new standard, this study reviewed and interpreted the relevant technical content for determining the standard limit, including the indoor concentration and human exposure levels of formaldehyde, the health effects of formaldehyde, and the derivation of safety reference values. It also proposed prospect for the future development and revision of quality standards for formaldehyde in indoor air.

Study on formulation and revision of standard limits for total bacteria count in "Standards for indoor air quality（GB/T 18883-2022）" in China

The total bacteria count has been attracting attention as an important pollutant in indoor air, and its standard limit was tightened to 1500 CFU/m3 in "Standards for indoor air quality (GB/T 18883-2022)".The technical contents related to the determination of the indoor air standard limits for total bacteria count were analyzed and studied, including the environmental existence level, exposure status, the health effects and the derivation of the limit value. It also proposed prospects for the future development and revision of quality standards for total bacteria count in indoor air.

Analysis and Research on the Differences in Observed Data of Sand–Dust Weather between China and Mongolia

The difference in meteorological factors (such as weather phenomena, wind speed, and visibility) of sand–dust weather between China and Mongolia from 2011 to 2021 was analyzed using meteorological observational data and international exchange of meteorological observation data. Additionally, consistency analysis was performed by integrating satellite retrieval products with meteorological observation data. The results showed that the average annual frequency of sand–dust weather in Mongolia was significantly higher than that in China. In China, the sand–dust weather was mainly characterized by floating dust or blowing dust, while in Mongolia, it was primarily characterized by blowing dust or a sand and dust storm. The average annual wind speed and visibility during sand–dust weather in Mongolia were relatively higher than those in China. Based on the dust grade standard of China, when the floating dust occurred in Mongolia, there were cases with wind speed > level 3 and visibility > 10 km; when the blowing dust or sand and dust storm occurred in Mongolia, there were cases with wind speed ≤ level 3 and visibility > 10 km. In China, the sand–dust weather mainly occurred in the spring, while the sand-dust weather occurred frequently throughout the year in Mongolia. The number of days with dust lasting for 2 days or more in Mongolia exceeded that of China, and Mongolia had a significant impact on the sand–dust weather in China. According to the ground observation data and satellite retrieve products during the dust events, all dust events that significantly affected China and Mongolia during the same period from 2021 to 2022 were classified into three categories; among them, the proportion of types of large-scale sand–dust weather phenomena observed by both satellite and ground observation stations was significantly higher (6 times). By integrating ground observation data and satellite retrieval products and following the dust grade standard of China, the consistent correction of sand–dust weather phenomena was carried out. This laid the foundation for the future development of international dust grade standards and provided technological support for improved dust forecasting services in the Asian region.

New ventilation design criteria for energy sustainability and indoor air quality in a post Covid-19 scenario

The Covid-19 outbreak raised great attention to the importance of indoor air quality in buildings. Even if the Covid-19 epidemic is nearing an end, all stakeholders agree that increasing outside air flow rates is beneficial for decreasing the likelihood of contagion, lowering the risk of future pandemics, and enhancing the general safety of the interior environment. Indeed, diverse concerns raised about whether the ventilation standards in place are still adequate. In this context, this research intends to assess the suitability of current ventilation standards in addressing the current pandemic scenario and to offer novel criteria and guidelines for the design and operation of HVAC systems, as well as useful guidance for the creation of future ventilation standards in a post-Covid-19 scenario. To that end, a comprehensive analysis of the ANSI/ASHRAE 62.1 is carried out, with an emphasis on its effectiveness in reducing the risk of infection. Furthermore, the efficacy of various ventilation strategies in reducing the likelihood of contagion has been investigated. Finally, because building ventilation is inextricably linked to energy consumption, the energy and economic implications of the proposed enhancements have been assessed. To carry out the described analysis, a novel method was developed that combines Building Energy Modelling (BEM) and virus contagion risk assessment. The analyses conducted produced interesting insights and criteria for ventilation system design and operation, as well as recommendations for the development of future standards.

Preparedness for dental practice in Australia: a qualitative study on the experiences of final-year students and new graduates

BackgroundLimited data exists regarding the perspectives of newly graduated dental practitioners (NGDPs) and final-year students (FYS) about their preparedness for dental practice. This information is crucial to inform developments in ongoing professional development for newly qualified dental practitioners and future reviews and development of accreditation standards, policies, and the professional competencies of newly qualified dental practitioners. Thus, the primary goal of this paper was to describe the perceptions of preparedness for dental practice of NGDPs and FYSs.MethodsIndividual semi-structured interviews were conducted between March and July 2020. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analysed using a thematic analysis.ResultsEighteen NGDPs and four FYS from across Australia participated in the qualitative interviews. A strong theme from the data was that respondents believed they were well prepared for common challenges in dental practice and patient care. A second prominent theme was participants’ awareness of specific areas of limitation in their knowledge and specific skills including (list them). This data highlights a high level of self-awareness and potential for self-directed learning of NGDPs. It also provides specific content areas for future curriculum developers.ConclusionsNewly graduated dental practitioner and final-year student participants were satisfied with the theoretical and evidence-based information in their formal learning and teaching activities to begin practicing as dental practitioners. In some areas, NGDPs felt underprepared, mostly attributed to limited clinical treatment exposure, and other contextual elements of clinical practice, and thought transitional support may be required. The research reinforces the value of seeking and learning from students’ and NGDPs’ perspectives.

The tradition of early childhood personnel preparation standards alignment analysis

ABSTRACT There is an extensive history of collaboration with respect to policy initiatives between the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). In pursuit of promoting high quality inclusive education for all young children, DEC and NAEYC have partnered to create numerous resources and supports over the years for preservice preparation programs and professional development providers who seek to address both ECE and EI/ECSE personnel preparation standards. One notable result has been the development of formal procedures for alignments of the preparation standards promoted by these organizations. In this paper, we detail this established tradition of early childhood standards alignment analysis by describing the development and details of the procedures used for conducting alignment analyses. These procedures are now precedent and provide a roadmap for future alignment analyses. Implications for personnel preparation and future alignment analysis and standards development are discussed.

Comparative Study on Architectural Design Standards of Elderly Care Facilities between China and Spain

This paper aims to compare the architectural design standards of elderly care facilities in China and Spain, and explore their similarities and differences. By collecting a large amount of literature and using comparative analysis method, the development process, content characteristics, staffing, functional configuration, and area indicators of elderly care facilities in China and Spain are compared. Significant differences in the architectural design standards of elderly care facilities between China and Spain were found. Therefore, this study summarizes the conclusions and experiences of comparative research, in order to provide reference for the future development, improvement, updating, and direction of Chinese architectural design standards and related specifications for elderly care facilities.

Prediction of Primary Deformation Modulus Based on Bearing Capacity: A Case on Forest Road with a Light Falling Weight Deflectometer Zorn ZFG 3000 GPS

Bearing capacity and compaction are among the most important and frequently used geotechnical parameters in road construction. The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of predicting the value of the primary deformation modulus E1 (obtained from measurements using a static plate load test—PLT) based on measurements with a Zorn light falling weight deflectometer (LFWD), type ZFG 3000 GPS, with a drop weight of 10 kg. A regression analysis was performed on 245 bearing capacity measurements that were taken on 46 forest road sections with various road surfaces. Different regression models were tested, from linear to logarithmic, polynomial, exponential and power models, but excluding polynomials of fourth and higher degree. The results showed that the prediction of E1 values (PLT) from the dynamic deformation modulus values Evd (LFWD) was possible. However, the reported unsatisfactory strength of the relationship between the two parameters was associated with a high risk of error (r = 0.64, R2 = 0.41, Se = 49.78). Neither the use of more complex non-linear regression models, nor the use of multiple regression by introducing an additional estimator in the form of the s/v ratio, significantly improved estimation results. The quality of the prediction of the E1 value was not constant. It varied, depending on the type of forest road, the use of geosynthetic reinforcement and the type of road subgrade. During the study, it was also found that the quality of the prediction of the E1 value could be improved by limiting the range of Evd values tested from above. It is advisable to continue this type of research, as the obtained results could form the basis for future development of national standards for the use of LFWDs to control the bearing capacity and compaction of forest road pavements.

A novel method for the probabilistic assessment of ship grounding damages and their impact on damage stability

Existing statistics for use in ship damage stability assessment are based on either accident investigation reports or empirical crew records. This is the reason why the databases used within the context of ship design for safety are either incomplete or miss critical information. This paper introduces a methodology for the probabilistic evaluation of passenger ship damage extents. The model accounts for the influence of crashworthiness in real operational conditions. Based on operational statistical records for ships before grounding, a Monte Carlo simulation is utilized to randomly generate a realistic profile that accounts for variable ship speed, conical rock geometry, rock position, and height in both deep and shallow waters. Subsequently, using the operational parameters as input, a six degrees of freedom fluid–structure interaction (FSI) model is used to combine the influence of ship dynamics, and structural mechanics on the probability distributions of hull breaches. Ship damage stability evaluation is carried out using NAPA software, which measures ship survivability via an attained subdivision index. Probabilistic results are compared against existing distributions of damage extents and demonstrate an increase in the mean distribution of damage length. The findings demonstrate the method's adequacy for improving passenger vessel safety in case of ship grounding. It is concluded that the method allows for low-fidelity optimization of the structural arrangement of the bottom of the ship, probabilistic evaluation of loads associated with ship crashworthiness, and the assessment of operational limitations during an evasive maneuver. It could therefore be used for the future development of ship damage stability standards or ad - hoc forensic investigations.

Association of short-term exposure to ambient PM1 with total and cause-specific cardiovascular disease mortality

BackgroundThe acute effects of exposure to ambient particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤1 μm (PM1) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality remain unclear. ObjectivesTo investigate whether short-term exposure to ambient PM1 was associated with mortality from total and/or cause-specific CVDs, and estimate the excess mortality. MethodsA time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted among 1,081,507 CVD deaths in Jiangsu province, China from 2015 to 2020. We assessed daily residential ambient PM1 exposures using a validated grid dataset for each subject. Conditional logistic regression models and distributed lag linear or nonlinear models were employed to quantify the association of PM1 exposure with mortality during the same day of CVD death and 1 day prior. ResultsEach 10 μg/m3 increase of PM1 exposure was significantly associated with a 1.46 % (95 % confidence interval: 1.28 %, 1.65 %), 1.95 % (1.28 %, 2.63 %), 1.16 % (0.86 %, 1.47 %), 1.41 % (1.13 %, 1.69 %), and 1.83 % (1.37 %, 2.30 %) increased odds of mortality from total CVDs, hypertensive diseases (HDs), ischemic heart diseases (IHDs), stroke, and sequelae of stroke, respectively (all p <0.05). No significant association was identified with mortality from pulmonary heart disease or chronic rheumatic heart diseases. The excess fraction of total CVD mortality attributable to PM1 exposure was 5.71 %, while the cause-specific excess fractions ranged from 4.98 % for IHDs to 7.46 % for HDs. Significantly higher excess fractions were observed for total and certain cause-specific CVD mortality in adults 80 years or older. ConclusionsWe found that short-term exposure to ambient PM1 was significantly associated with an increased odds of mortality from total and specific CVDs and may lead to considerable excess mortality especially among older adults. Our findings highlight a potential approach to prevent premature CVD deaths by reducing PM1 exposures and provide essential quantitative data for the development of future air quality standards for ambient PM1.

Online-based participatory design: A Case Study of Developing International Standards During a Pandemic

Standards are essential instruments to ensure the safety, efficiency and quality of products, services, systems, processes, and environments. In pre-pandemic times, standard development process used to happen through in-person consultation and meetings, however, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the whole routine. A team of technical experts from the National Standards Authority of Ireland trialled an online-based participatory design process to support the review and development of a standard through stakeholder engagement. This article introduces the experience of developing a new standard by leveraging on emerging digital technologies, through stakeholder participation. This research offers a framework, outlining the steps undertaken during the process, to support future online-based standard development processes in co-operation with stakeholders, by respecting cultures, backgrounds, skills, and experiences.

Standards as a Tool for Reducing Plastic Waste

Standards are one avenue for addressing the problems caused by plastic pollution. By addressing quality and safety plus information and measurement, reducing variety and increasing compatibility, standards can help to drive the transition to a circular economy for plastic resources. The aim of this work was to classify existing plastic standards within a circular economy framework and to identify potential gaps and highlight where future standards development might be focused. Using desktop research on existing standards, 95 plastic standards were identified, only 9 of which are Australian standards. The majority of the standards cover recycling and compostable or biodegradable plastics. There are significant opportunities to develop standards pertaining to higher levels of the plastics waste hierarchy, such as design and reuse.

Bloom의 신교육목표분류체계를 활용한 2015 개정 특수교육 기본 교육과정 성취기준 분석

The purpose of this study is to provide implications for setting the 2022 revised curriculum achievement standards by analyzing the 2015 revised basic curriculum achievement standards, among others, to provide a view of curriculum design and implementation using the basic curriculum achievement standards. To this end, a total of 1,130 achievement standards for the 2015 revised basic curriculum for special education were analyzed with the use of Bloom's new education objectives classification system. The main findings are as follows. First, because of the analysis of knowledge types, it is distributed with a focus on both factual and procedural knowledge. As a result of the analysis on the type of cognitive process, the distribution of 'remember,' 'understand,' and 'apply' is high; on the other hand, the cognitive process of 'analysis,' 'evaluate,' and 'creative' is low. Second, the results of the analysis of achievement-based knowledge types and cognitive process types by subject showed high factual knowledge types, followed by procedural knowledge types; furthermore, the distribution of both conceptual and metacognitive knowledge was relatively low. In the analysis of the cognitive process type, the cognitive process type of 'remember' and 'apply' was high; meanwhile, the cognitive process type of 'understand,' 'analysis,' 'evaluate,' and 'creative' were distributed low. An analysis regarding the relevance of knowledge types and cognitive process types by subject was found to present statements in the categories 'remember' and 'understand' in factual knowledge; the cognitive process of 'apply' in procedural knowledge; and statements in the categories 'analyze,' 'evaluate,' and 'creative' in metacognitive knowledge. Third, the results of the analysis of achievement-based knowledge type and cognitive process type by grade group showed the highest percentage of factual knowledge in all grade groups, followed by procedural knowledge, conceptual knowledge, and metacognitive knowledge. The results of the analysis on the type of cognitive process by grade group are distributed at a high rate in all grade groups that 'remember.' However, the cognitive processes of ‘analyze,’ ‘evaluate,’ and ‘create’ are distributed low. As a result of analyzing the relationship between the type of knowledge and the type of cognitive process by grade group, many statements in the 'remember' and 'understand' categories are distributed; in addition, conceptual statements are statements in the 'understand' category. Statement of the 'apply' category of procedural knowledge. In metacognitive knowledge, statements in the categories of 'analyze,' 'evaluate,' and 'creative' were found to be distributed. Based on these results, discussion points related to the development of future curriculum achievement standards were presented.

Scoping Review of Mechanical Testing of the Structural and Material Properties of Lower-Limb Prosthetic Sockets

ABSTRACTIntroductionLower-limb amputations account for most cases seen by certified prosthetists in the United States. Fundamental to the success of a lower-limb prosthesis is the socket, and fundamental to the success of a socket is safety and durability. Currently, there are no standards specific to ensuring the safety and durability of lower-limb prosthetic sockets. The purpose of this scoping review was to describe the mechanical testing procedures used to date to assess the structural and material properties of lower-limb prosthetic sockets, with a view to informing the development of future standards.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus databases and theCanadian Prosthetics &amp; Orthotics Journalwebsite to identify relevant articles. Articles published in English were included if they used mechanical testing to assess the socket and/or socket material and presented those test results.ResultsFourteen articles were included in this review. They described 30 different mechanical test protocols, consisting of 12 different types of mechanical tests. The most common mechanical tests conducted were tensile, static load, and cyclic load testing. Of the 30 test protocols, 20 referenced current standards that do not include sockets within their scope and modified them in various ways to allow testing of sockets. Of the 14 included articles, 8 described using a mock residual limb during testing, all of which were unique in their composition.ConclusionIndividual researchers modified existing, nonsocket standards in varying ways to adopt them for use in testing lower-limb prosthetic sockets. This scoping review describes information that may inform the development of socket-specific test protocols.Clinical RelevanceFuture research is needed to determine which tests are good indicators of clinical safety and durability in order to link quantitative results of mechanical testing to the safety and durability of everyday socket use.

Convergence of patient- and physician-reported outcomes in the French National Registry of Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy

BackgroundFacioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is among the most prevalent muscular dystrophies and currently has no treatment. Clinical and genetic heterogeneity are the main challenges to a full comprehension of the physiopathological mechanism. Improving our knowledge of FSHD is crucial to the development of future therapeutic trials and standards of care. National FSHD registries have been set up to this end. The French National Registry of FSHD combines a clinical evaluation form (CEF) and a self-report questionnaire (SRQ), filled out by a physician with expertise in neuromuscular dystrophies and by the patient, respectively. Aside from favoring recruitment, our strategy was devised to improve data quality. Indeed, the pairwise comparison of data from 281 patients for 39 items allowed for evaluating data accuracy. Kappa or intra-class coefficient (ICC) values were calculated to determine the correlation between answers provided in both the CEF and SRQ.ResultsPatients and physicians agreed on a majority of questions common to the SRQ and CEF (24 out of 39). Demographic, diagnosis- and care-related questions were generally answered consistently by the patient and the medical practitioner (kappa or ICC values of most items in these groups were greater than 0.8). Muscle function-related items, i.e. FSHD-specific signs, showed an overall medium to poor correlation between data provided in the two forms; the distribution of agreements in this section was markedly spread out and ranged from poor to good. In particular, there was very little agreement regarding the assessment of facial motricity and the presence of a winged scapula. However, patients and physicians agreed very well on the Vignos and Brooke scores. The report of symptoms not specific to FSHD showed general poor consistency.ConclusionsPatient and physician answers are largely concordant when addressing quantitative and objective items. Consequently, we updated collection forms by relying more on patient-reported data where appropriate. We hope the revised forms will reduce data collection time while ensuring the same quality standard. With the advent of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making, high-quality and reliable data are critical to develop top-performing algorithms to improve diagnosis, care, and evaluate the efficiency of upcoming treatments.

A Systematic Review for Establishing Relevant Environmental Parameters for Urban Lighting: Translating Research into Practice

The application of lighting technologies developed in the 20th century has increased the brightness and changed the spectral composition of nocturnal night-time habitats and night skies across urban, peri-urban, rural, and pristine landscapes, and subsequently, researchers have observed the disturbance of biological rhythms of flora and fauna. To reduce these impacts, it is essential to translate relevant knowledge about the potential adverse effects of artificial light at night (ALAN) from research into applicable urban lighting practice. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify and report, via a systematic review, the effects of exposure to different physical properties of artificial light sources on various organism groups, including plants, arthropods, insects, spiders, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and non-human mammals (including bats, rodents, and primates). PRISMA 2020 guidelines were used to identify a total of 1417 studies from Web of Science and PubMed. In 216 studies, diverse behavioral and physiological responses were observed across taxa when organisms were exposed to ALAN. The studies showed that the responses were dependent on high illuminance levels, duration of light exposure, and unnatural color spectra at night and also highlighted where research gaps remain in the domains of ALAN research and urban lighting practice. To avoid misinterpretation, and to define a common language, key terminologies and definitions connected to natural and artificial light have been provided. Furthermore, the adverse impacts of ALAN urgently need to be better researched, understood, and managed for the development of future lighting guidelines and standards to optimize sustainable design applications that preserve night-time environment(s) and their inhabiting flora and fauna.

Issues of integrating central bank digital currency into the fiat money system

Since 2020, a digital equivalent of legal tender became one of the most discussed topics among the international community of central banks. Moreover, the Bahamas’ “Sand Dollar” – the world&amp;apos;s first actually operating platform has been launched. With the onset of the pandemic, the acceleration of events is influenced by a non-economic factor – the demand for all methods of remote socio-economic interaction. In 2021, based on previous public consultations, the Bank of Russia published the Digital Ruble Concept. The article discusses the background, goals and side effects of creating central bank digital money. The idea of digital transformation of banknotes meets the public demand for a payment instrument that is practical in modern realities, but its implementation is associated with uncertain consequences for the banking sector and the future development of technologies and security standards for settlements using digital solutions. In this context, the rationale for placing on a reimbursable basis the services of private financial agents on the digital money platform is given.