Standardization Method Research Articles

Evaluation based on Relative Utility and Nonlinear Standardization (ERUNS) Method for Comparing Firm Performance in Energy Sector

The present paper introduces a new multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) model such as Evaluation based on Relative Utility and Nonlinear Standardization (ERUNS). The proposed method provides a number of unique features such as use of non-linear standardization combined with a new definition for calculating utility values of the alternatives and design flexibility. The new method is applied to compare the firm performances using Economic, Environment, Social and Governance (EESG) framework. Over the last few decades alongside economic gain, the firms have been equally emphasizing on environmental protection, social values and good governance. This paper aims to bring in the economic aspect in terms of market capitalization and enterprise value while uses rating scores for environment, social and governance to put forth an extended performance measurement framework. A set of eight leading firms belonging to the energy sector listed to NSE, India has been considered for the period FY 2022-23 as a case study. The criteria weights are calculated using the Logarithmic Percentage Change-driven Objective Weighting (LOPCOW) method. It is observed that ERUNS provides a stable and reliable ranking result free from the rank reversal issue. This paper shall be of interest to both analysts and practitioners in terms of its robust method and practical performance assessment framework.

FISHGLOB_data: an integrated dataset of fish biodiversity sampled with scientific bottom-trawl surveys

Scientific bottom-trawl surveys are ecological observation programs conducted along continental shelves and slopes of seas and oceans that sample marine communities associated with the seafloor. These surveys report taxa occurrence, abundance and/or weight in space and time, and contribute to fisheries management as well as population and biodiversity research. Bottom-trawl surveys are conducted all over the world and represent a unique opportunity to understand ocean biogeography, macroecology, and global change. However, combining these data together for cross-ecosystem analyses remains challenging. Here, we present an integrated dataset of 29 publicly available bottom-trawl surveys conducted in national waters of 18 countries that are standardized and pre-processed, covering a total of 2,170 sampled fish taxa and 216,548 hauls collected from 1963 to 2021. We describe the processing steps to create the dataset, flags, and standardization methods that we developed to assist users in conducting spatio-temporal analyses with stable regional survey footprints. The aim of this dataset is to support research, marine conservation, and management in the context of global change.

Behind and beyond the standard(ization) trap: diversifying power sources by differentiating centralization and standardization

ABSTRACT Standardization, often seen as a means to increase power through uniform working methods, has both benefits and drawbacks. Scholars and practitioners highlight the risk of a ‘standard(ization) trap’, where initial benefits lead to unforeseen costs. This study reviews literature and practices in standardization, identifying confusion between two power sources: substance power, concerning WHETHER to standardize, and decision-making power, dealing with WHO standardizes. It introduces a matrix differentiating these sources, offering insights into standardization methods. This matrix proposes four archetypes of standardization: centralized standardization, centralized de-standardization, decentralized standardization, and decentralized de-standardization. These archetypes offer theoretical and practical insights for addressing standardization challenges.

Ab. No. 101 A Conceptual Model of a Unified Wrist Sensor (UWS) for Non-Invasive Real-Time Preterm Infant Monitoring at NICU

Introduction: This study introduces a groundbreaking conceptual model for a Unified Wrist Sensor (UWS) designed to revolutionize non-invasive real-time monitoring of preterm infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Current pain, sleep, and stress assessments in NICU settings are fraught with subjectivity and time constraints. The proposed UWS addresses these challenges by integrating multiple sensors into a single, non-restrictive wristband. Methods: The conceptual model employs a systematic approach, encompassing pre-processing, feature extraction, optimization, and learning models. Deep learning and machine learning techniques are harnessed to enhance accuracy in processing diverse physiological data. Standardization methods such as linear scaling, log scaling, or z-score are strategically applied to reduce variability, ensuring reliable outcomes across different individuals. Result: The discussion underscores the critical need for intelligent fusion structures that incorporate multiple sensor data and rich contextual information. The UWS aims to strike a balance between clinical utility and practicality, offering complementary, robust, and reliable multimodal sensor data. This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of pain, sleep, and stress patterns in preterm infants, paving the way for personalized treatment protocols. Conclusion: In conclusion, the proposed UWS emerges as a potential game-changer, appropriately reweighting data and enabling real-time monitoring of pain, stress, and sleep in NICU infants. The implications of this research are far-reaching, as the UWS can monitor physiological changes using multiple modalities, assess real-time patient outcomes, and dynamically adjust treatment protocols. Implication: This study contributes significantly to the field of neonatal care and introduces the prospect of seamlessly integrating advanced sensor technology into routine NICU practices.

УДОСКОНАЛЕННЯ НОРМУВАННЯ ВИТРАТИ ПАЛЬНОГО ВІЙСЬКОВОЮ КОЛІСНОЮ ТЕХНІКОЮ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ ГВАРДІЇ УКРАЇНИ З УРАХУВАННЯМ СПЕЦИФІЧНИХ УМОВ ЕКСПЛУАТАЦІЇ

The work thoroughly examines the relevance and necessity for further improvement in the regula-tion of fuel consumption standards for the wheeled military vehicles that are in service with the Na-tional Guard of Ukraine. This issue is critically important for ensuring stable and effective operation of military units, especially in the context of modern challenges and conditions of combat operations. The conducted analysis of Ukraine's legislative and regulatory framework, scientific research, and technical literature, as well as the analysis of the actual situation in the military units of the National Guard of Ukraine, showed significant discrepancies between the existing fuel consumption standards and their practical application under complex operating conditions. These discrepancies are particularly evident during combat operations, where standard operating conditions differ significantly from those anticipated by guiding documents. This requires a revision and adaptation of existing methods to the current realities. As a result of the analysis, the main directions for further research were outlined and recommendations were formulated for the development of a new, more adaptive method of regulating fuel consumption. The proposed way for improving norms of fuel consumption is aimed at creating conditions for the timely and complete supply of necessary fuel to military units. The new standardization method is based on a comprehensive analysis of the structural parameters of military wheeled vehicles and the specific conditions of their use. This approach will not only ensure the accuracy of resource planning but also significantly en-hance the effectiveness of performing daily and combat tasks, as well as reduce the risks associated with potential fuel deficits at critical moments. The primary advantage of this methodology is in accurately determining fuel needs that depend on many variable factors. The implementation of these approaches will contribute to the readiness and ability of the National Guard of Ukraine to respond promptly to the challenges posed by the modern military conflict.

Development of the HPLC-DAD method for chromone determination and standardization in Harrisonia perforata (Blanco) Merr. and Thai herbal Ya-Ha-Rak formulation

Development of the HPLC-DAD method for chromone determination and standardization in Harrisonia perforata (Blanco) Merr. and Thai herbal Ya-Ha-Rak formulation

Improving the standardization of wagon standby time at the sorting station

The aim of the work is to improve the methods of determining the standby time of transit recycling wagons at the sorting station. Systems analysis, analytical, graphical modeling, Ishikawi scheme and methods of comparing the performance of transit and local carriages were used. The reasons for the extra time lost by the wagons at the railway stations were given. Methods of adjusting the stopping time of wagons at the sorting station and their advantages, disadvantages and error rates were studied. The options and time costs of moving the wagon from one loading to the unloading location were analyzed, and the negative factors that cause the wagons to be overstayed at the sorting station were identified. In order to increase the level of performance of the sorting station performance and speed up the delivery of goods, a four-step method of reasonable standardization of the stopping time of wagons was recommended. This method allows you to analyze the time spent on each operation of the wagon on the road, to identify and eliminate inefficient time losses in a timely manner, to identify negative factors and increase the accuracy of standardization methods by 5-10%.

REGULATION OF LABOR AS A TECHNOLOGY OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN RESTAURANT INDUSTRY ESTABLISHMENTS

The study indicates that the regulation of labor in restaurants is key to ensuring safety, service quality, and efficiency. It establishes rules regarding working hours, hygiene, food safety, and service standards, contributing to customer satisfaction and providing comfortable conditions for employees. In the scientific literature dedicated to management organization issues, there are no complete classification schemes for labor regulations. The analysis of labor regulation forms proposed in the study encompasses a set of characteristics that correspond to the goals of achieving the most comprehensive coverage of regulation forms, their organization, and the definition of their features. The labor regulation of a restaurant enterprise includes a series of rules, procedures, and requirements regarding the organization of the work process, safety at work, quality control of products, customer service, etc. It may cover aspects such as staff work schedules, procedures for receiving and issuing orders, sanitary standards, staff requirements, labor safety instructions, work safety rules, and other important aspects of restaurant functioning. Given the diversity of restaurant enterprises and the legislative requirements of the country, regulations may vary, but the general principles remain similar. The analysis of the methodology for labor standardization allows for the following conclusions: all methods of labor standardization for managerial staff are based on the study of working time expenditures; the number of managerial staff is calculated according to norms and time standards. Problems in the management organization system are solved using various methods. The functional division of labor in a restaurant is best determined by the expert method, while the parametric approach most fully justifies itself for establishing staff numbers. Orientation towards different approaches allows to a certain extent to determine the desired level and quality of regulatory documentation. The arsenal of methods for quantitative assessment of personnel activity is quite broad. Each of the methods listed above has its advantages and disadvantages. The choice of method depends on the tasks set, the necessary accuracy, and the possibilities.

Exploring the Digital Innovation Development Model of Intangible Cultural Heritage in China

Abstract Exploring the innovative development mode of digitalization of China’s intangible cultural heritage, the study focuses on applying and improving the traditional entropy value method in the digital evaluation of intangible cultural heritage, and is dedicated to enhancing the dissemination effect and public cognition of intangible cultural heritage. The study first standardizes the data, including the extreme value processing method, z-score standardization method, etc., and then applies the improved entropy value method for comprehensive evaluation. This paper’s improved entropy value method focuses on the Nature of the evaluation indexes, making the index data more genuinely reflect the relationship between the original values. The study results show that the index of understanding non-heritage culture through the Internet channel is 0.6, significantly higher than other channels. The user experience score of non-heritage culture after digitization increased from 2.48 to 4.43, indicating that digitization technology significantly improved the user experience of non-heritage culture. In addition, digitization technology enhanced NRM cultural heritage’s aesthetic, novelty and social communication. Digitization technology effectively enhances the communication effect and public perception of ICH.

A novel spectral standardization method capable of eliminating the influence of plasma morphology to improve LIBS performance

In this study, a novel spectral standardization method which can eliminate the influence of plasma morphology was proposed to improve the performance of LIBS.

Categorizing Indian states based on operating condition of photovoltaic system

Electricity generation of a photovoltaic (PV) module is primarily affected by local weather conditions, which vary significantly across vast geographic areas. This work introduces an approach to categorize Indian states based on outdoor operating conditions of PV modules that influence performance and reliability. Module temperature and irradiance are the two most important parameters which affect PV performance. Relative humidity (RH), module temperature, and global horizontal irradiance (GHI) are the three most important parameters that affect PV reliability. In this work, the PV module's most frequent operating condition (MFOC) of temperature and irradiance corresponding to maximum energy production has been analyzed for dominant PV technology (multi-crystalline silicon). Data from various sites across India were analyzed and subsequently grouped by state as PV installation decisions are generally based on state-level factors, such as state business policies, incentives, availability of local human resources, state power policies, etc. The MFOC method used in this work was supported by experimental results. Based on estimated states' MFOC, PV module output power has been obtained and compared with its rated power. Further in this work, major stressors affecting PV modules namely average RH, module temperature, and total annual GHI have been analyzed for different Indian states. Based on these specific stressors, states with similar stressor patterns have been grouped by the k-means clustering method. Results of MFOC estimation show potential for additional standardization methods to estimate PV system performance accurately. Statistical analysis of stressors highlights the importance of selecting PV technology modules carefully.

Energy-environment-economic (3E) hub for sustainable plastic management – Upgraded recycling, chemical valorization, and bioplastics

This research aims to clarify the energy, environment, and economic (3E) aspects of petroleum-based plastics, bioplastics, and all end-of-life methods including landfill, incineration, composting, and recycling. Production and utilization of bioplastic, associated with recycling techniques to produce valuable building block chemicals, are considered as long-term solutions to the plastic crisis. However, this target seems to be unachievable in decades mostly due to unclear information on energy consumption and operational costs of different techniques. Although numerous studies of life cycle analysis (LCA) of bioplastics have been published in literature, the energy and environmental impacts of bioplastics are still uncertain, due to the non-standardization of the analyses. To standardize the current findings, this study proposed a novel standardization method and categorized the latest life cycle studies to correlate the energy requirement, global warming potential, and paramount factors which significantly influence the environmental impact of bioplastics production. Economic considerations were evaluated through standardization of independent techno-economic studies in literature, followed by a comparative analysis of the profitability between traditional waste management practices, such as landfilling and incineration, and recycling. Finally, it was found that recycling is beneficial from energy, environmental, and economic perspectives, but some assessments were based on ideal assumptions where efficiency of recycling and logistics of plastic waste collection was high. Real-life applications of recycling and bio-based plastics are hindered by various challenges. Overcoming these challenges may be the key to creating sustainable circular bioeconomy of plastics.

Acute Toxicity Assays with Adult Coral Fragments: A Method for Standardization.

Coral reefs are globally declining due to various anthropogenic stressors. Amongst those, chemical pollutants, such as pesticides from agricultural runoff, sewage or an overabundance of personal care products in coastal waters due to intense tourism, may be considered as a local stressor for reef-building corals. The extent to which such chemicals exhibit toxic effects towards corals at environmentally relevant concentrations is currently controversially discussed and existing studies are often based on varying and sometimes deficient test methods. To address this uncertainty, we adapted available methods into a reliable and comprehensive acute coral toxicity test method for the reef-building coral Montipora digitata. The toxicities of the four substances benzophenone-3 (BP-3), Diuron (DCMU), copper (Cu2+ as CuCl2, positive control) and dimethylformamide (DMF, solvent) were assessed in a 96 h semi-static test design. Endpoints such as maximum quantum yield, bleaching, tissue loss and mortality were evaluated with respect to their suitability for regulatory purposes. Overall, the endpoints bleaching and mortality yielded sensitive and robust results for the four tested substances. As the test method follows the principles of internationally standardized testing methods (ISO, OECD), it can be considered suitable for further validation and standardization. Once validated, a standardized test method will help to obtain reproducible toxicity results useful for marine hazard and risk assessment and regulatory decision making.

The evaluation of grey relative incidence

PurposeWith the use of the grey incidence analysis (GIA), indicators such as the absolute degree of grey incidence (εij), relative degree of grey incidence (rij) or synthetic degree of grey incidence (ρij) are calculated. However, it seems that some assumptions made to calculate them are arguable, which may also have a material impact on the reliability of test results. In this paper, the authors analyse one of the indicators of the GIA, namely the relative degree of grey incidence. The aim of the article was to verify the hypothesis: in determining the relative degree of grey incidence, the method of standardisation of elements in a series significantly affects the test results.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the purpose of the article, the authors used the numerical simulation method and the logical analysis method (in order to draw conclusions from our tests).FindingsIt turned out that the applied method of standardising elements in series when calculating the relative degree of grey incidence significantly affects the test results. Moreover, the manner of standardisation used in the original method (which involves dividing all elements by the first element) is not the best. Much more reliable results are obtained by a standardisation that involves dividing all elements by their arithmetic mean.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of the conducted evaluation involve in particular the limited scope of inference. This is since the obtained results referred to only one of the indicators classified into the GIA.Originality/valueIn this article, the authors have evaluated the model of GIA in which the relative degree of grey incidence is determined. As a result of the research, the authors have proposed a recommendation regarding a change in the method of standardising variables, which will contribute to obtaining more reliable results in relational tests using the grey system theory.

On Methods of Data Standardization of German Social Media Comments

This article is part of a larger project aiming at identifying discursive strategies in social media discourses revolving around the topic of gender diversity, for which roughly 350,000 comments were scraped from the comments sections below YouTube videos relating to the topic in question. This article focuses on different methods of standardizing social media data in order to enhance further processing. More specifically, the data are corrected in terms of casing, spelling, and punctuation. Different tools and models (LanguageTool, T5, seq2seq, GPT-2) were tested. The best outcome was achieved by the German GPT-2 model: It scored highest in all of the applied scores (ROUGE, GLEU, BLEU), making it the best model for the task of Grammatical Error Correction in German social media data.

Cytotoxicity of dental cement on soft tissue associated with dental implants at different time intervals.

To investigate and compare the effect of four commercially used dental cement at 24 hours, 48 hours,72 hours (h) and 6 days on the cellular response of human gingival fibroblast (HGF). 3 cement pellet samples were made for each 4-test cement (n=12). The cement used for this study were zinc phosphate (ZP), zinc oxide non-eugenol (ZOE), RelyX U200 (RU200), and glass ionomer cement (GIC). The cytotoxicity of peri-implant tissues was investigated using one commercial cell line. All processing was done following International Organization for Standardization (ISO) methods 10993-5 and 10993-12 (MTT assay Test). Cell cultures without dental cement were considered as control. Standard laboratory procedures were followed to permit cell growth and confluence over 48 hrs after sub-cultivation. Before being subjected to analysis, the cells were kept in direct contact with the cement samples for the suggested time period. To validate the results the specimens were tested three times each. Cell death and inhibition of cell growth were measured quantitatively. Results were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA (a=0.05) followed by Tukey B post hoc test. The study showed the dental cement test material was cytotoxic. ZOE, ZP, GIC, and RU200 were cytotoxic in decreasing order, respectively, significantly reducing cell viability after exposure to HGF (p <0.001). Within the limitations of this in-vitro cellular study, results indicated that HGF were vulnerable to the test the dental cement. The highest cytotoxicity was observed in ZOE, followed by ZP, GIC, and RU200.

Методика формирования цифровых нормативно-технических документов в строительстве

The article describes the approach to the formation of the system of digital normative and technical documents (DNTD): the basic scheme of creating DNTD, the methodology of working with them in the existing system of normative regulation in the country is presented. The transition to the use of such machine-readable documents has a significant positive impact on the efficiency of design processes and expertise of design documentation. The proposed approach is harmonized with the current standardization system and also facilitates the harmonization of national standards with international standards. The DNTD partly solves the problems of transition from prescriptive and target methods of construction standardization and transition to the parametric method.

Mixed standardization and Ringel duality

Dlab–Ringel's standardization method gives a realization of a standardly stratified algebra. In this paper, we construct mixed stratified algebras, which are a generalization of standardly stratified algebras, following Dlab–Ringel's standardization method. Moreover, we study a Ringel duality of mixed stratified algebras from the viewpoint of stratifying systems.

The Role of Thoracic Vertebral Body Dosimetry in Minimizing Acute Hematologic Toxicities of Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Receiving Lung Radiation Therapy and Immunotherapy

IntroductionHematologic toxicities (HTs) are among the most common toxicities of combined immunotherapy and radiotherapy (RT). It remains essential to prevent RT-induced HTs because they can cause treatment discontinuation (influencing antitumoral effects), and because lymphopenia might dampen the effects of immunotherapy. To date, there are no studies examining the impact of thoracic vertebral body (TVB) RT dose on HTs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients receiving combined lung RT and PD(L)-1 immunotherapy. MethodsFor standardization, all doses were reported as 2-Gy equivalents (EQD2). Mirroring publications prior to the immunotherapy era, TVB volumes referred to T1-T10 and specific dosimetric parameters (DmeanEQD2, V5EQD2‒V60EQD2) were analyzed. Logistic regression estimated associations between grade ≥3 HTs (HT3+) and dosimetric/clinical parameters. Normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) models were constructed by logistic regression analysis modeling for HT3+. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis delineated TVB dosimetric thresholds, stratification of which was able to evaluate post-RT absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and immunotherapy responses. Areas under the curve (AUCs) for NTCP models were corroborated by bootstrapping (optimism-corrected) methodology. ResultsIn 132 patients, there were 26 (19.7%) instances of HT3+. On multivariate analysis, DmeanEQD2 and V5EQD2‒V20EQD2 associated with HT3+ (P<0.05 for all). The NTCP models illustrated a 50% probability of HT3+ at a DmeanEQD2=39.8 Gy, V5EQD2=87.4%, V10EQD2=77.0%, and V20EQD2=68.4%. ROC analysis delineated optimal thresholds of HT3+ with DmeanEQD2 ±30.2 Gy, V5EQD2 ±69.1%, V10EQD2 ±64.6%, and V20EQD2 ±53.5%. Patients treated with values above those cutoffs had over double the risk of HT3+, with significant differences in post-RT ALC and immunotherapy responses (P<0.05 for all). AUCs for each individual parameter ranged from 0.743 to 0.798, and combining all four aforementioned cutoffs into a ROC curve resulted in a qualitatively higher AUC (0.836). ConclusionsThis hypothesis-generating work suggests that TVB dosimetry may equate with HT3+ in NSCLC patients undergoing combined lung RT/immunotherapy. Applying TVB dose constraints in this population could reduce HT3+ and avoid dampening of immunotherapy responses, but prospective validation is required.

Heart Disease Prediction Using Concatenated Hybrid Ensemble Classifiers

Heart disease is a leading global cause of mortality, demanding early detection for effective and timely medical intervention. In this study, we propose a machine learning-based model for early heart disease prediction. This model is trained on a dataset from the UC Irvine Machine Learning Repository (UCI) and employs the Extra Trees Classifier for performing feature selection. To ensure robust model training, we standardize this dataset using the StandardScaler method for data standardization, thus preserving the distribution shape and mitigating the impact of outliers. For the classification task, we introduce a novel approach, which is the concatenated hybrid ensemble voting classification. This method combines two hybrid ensemble classifiers, each one utilizing a distinct subset of base classifiers from a set that includes Support Vector Machine, Decision Tree, K-Nearest Neighbor, Logistic Regression, Adaboost and Naive Bayes. By leveraging the concatenated ensemble classifiers, the proposed model shows some promising performance results; in particular, it achieves an accuracy of 86.89%. The obtained results highlight the efficacy of combining the strengths of multiple base classifiers in the problem of early heart disease prediction, thus aiding and enabling timely medical intervention.