scholarly journals Can biosensors and sensors operating in a complex matrix of local and international standards solve environmental quality problems of catchments?

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-208
Author(s):  
Clifford Tafangenyasha
Keyword(s):  
Internet Of Things ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Complex Matrix ◽  
River Catchment ◽  
Sugarcane Production ◽  
Laboratory Techniques ◽  
Assessment Techniques

This research aims at throwing light on applications of biological rapid assessment tools in the monitoring of environmental quality in Runde River catchment with intensive commercial sugarcane production. Burdened with drudgery in wet laboratory techniques, biological sensors (biosensors) and sensors can integrate catchment data from rapid assessment techniques to networks or Internet of Things (IoT). This research examines the techniques presented by biosensors and sensors and provides the checkboxes for sustained catchment monitoring. With available recent evidence from surveys it turns out the Runde River may not be polluted but this may reflect the time the survey was undertaken and suggestions made for routine checks

scholarly journals An assessment of the Armenian national midwifery curriculum as per international standards

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Aslanyan ◽  
S Sahakyan ◽  
V Petrosyan
Keyword(s):  
Poor Quality ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Global Competency ◽  
Midwifery Education ◽  
Study Team ◽  
Competency Based ◽  
Document Review ◽  
Provision Of Care

Abstract Background Literature suggests increasing evidence that incompetent midwifery education results in poor quality of care. The study compared and evaluated the level of compliance of the Armenian national criterion on midwifery with the global competency standards and developed recommendations for improvement. Methods The study team conducted a document review using a standardized checklist, which was adapted from the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) core assessment tools. The document review explored if the main knowledge and skills/ability related elements of each ICM competency were separately covered by different modules of the national criterion using a scoring system with categories: not met, partially met, fully met and unspecified. Results Although the national criterion did not have specifically defined competencies, most of the elements required by the ICM were present as specific learning outcomes under different modules of the criterion. Midwifery program curriculum was described as intensive with unnecessarily heavy workload. Additionally, the document review reviled that most of the learning outcome defined in modules of the national criterion focused more on theoretical knowledge rather than practical skills and abilities. Overall, the ICM required competency in provision of care during pregnancy was the most comprehensively covered one in the national criterion, while the competency in facilitation of abortion related care was the lowest covered. National criterion did not highlight the importance of topics such as women's rights and health, principles of epidemiology, statistical methods of research, cultural, local and ethical beliefs. Conclusions The systematic comparison of the national criterion with internationally recognized essential competencies demonstrates significant gaps. The study team recommends revisions to the national criterion to make it competency based. Key messages Midwifery education criteria in Armenia did not reflect internationally accepted midwifery competency’s fundamental philosophy and values. Given the shortcomings of the current national midwifery education criterion, a comprehensive revision of the competencies of midwives in Armenia should be considered.

scholarly journals Online Assessment of Cognitive Functioning: A Reliable Alternative to Laboratory Testing?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 576-577
Author(s):  
Maximilian Haas ◽  
Sascha Zuber ◽  
David Framorando ◽  
Elissa El Khawli ◽  
Susanne Scheibe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Functioning ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Cognitive Disorders ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Adult Lifespan ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Online Tools

Abstract As the population ages, risks for cognitive decline threaten independence and quality of life for older adults. Classically, psychological assessment tools to evaluate cognitive functioning are administered in face-to-face laboratory sessions, which is time- and resource-consuming. With the aim of reducing such costs, the present study set out to develop and validate two new online tools, allowing a rapid assessment of general cognitive abilities and of prospective memory. We collected data from 250 participants equally spread across the adult lifespan (aged 18 – 86). Results suggest that performance assessed via these newly developed online tools is comparable to performance in face-to-face laboratory settings. Our findings thereby indicate that these online tools can reliably measure cognitive functioning across the lifespan at a reduced cost, which may help detect individuals at risk of developing age-related cognitive disorders.

A Comprehensive Literature Review on Construction Project Risk Analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ermias Tesfaye ◽  
Eshetie Berhan ◽  
Daniel Kitaw
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
The Past ◽  
Comprehensive Literature Review ◽  
Risk Assessment Tools ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
Project Risk Analysis

The purpose of this paper is to present the chronological development of risk assessment techniques and models undertaken in construction project for the past two decades. This research used a systematic review and meta-analysis on risk assessment of construction project literatures. This includes browsing relevant researches and publications, screening articles based on the year of publication, identifying the domains and attributes. Accordingly, findings of major results achieved have been presented systematically based on the chronology of the research and research gaps are identified. From the review, it is found out that the dominant risk assessment tools used for the past twenty years is statistical analysis and fuzzy expert system.

scholarly journals Application of ecological indicators in coastal watershed under high pressure during summer period

RBRH ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 537-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aichely Rodrigues da Silva ◽  
Alessandra Larissa D’ Oliveira Fonseca ◽  
Claudinei José Rodrigues ◽  
Ângela da Veiga Beltrame
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Summer Period ◽  
Coastal Watershed ◽  
Assessment Protocol ◽  
The North ◽  
Trophic Index ◽  
Median Area

ABSTRACT Water bodies located in coastal areas are subject to human pressures and the loss of environmental quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental quality of the river Papaquara through water quality and river landscape, using the Trophic Index (TRIX) and Rapid Assessment Protocol (RAP). The study was developed in the watershed located in the north of the island of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis – SC, whose population increase in the summer is around 280%. The Trophic Index and the Rapid Assessment Protocol were evaluated in the pre-summer period, summer and after-summer in seven sample points along the inner areas (higher population density), median and outside the Papaquara river, plus two points in affluent. The river Papaquara showed up in great stress state, is classified as eutrophic, 77% of the samples and changed in 50% of the sampled area, as the TRIX index and RAP, respectively. The internal area registered up eutrophic and impacted in all periods analyzed. The median area and the outer decreased their water quality, due to summer activity, while there was no change in environmental quality by RAP. A significant correlation between the indices used indicated that the RAP should be used with caution to describe the condition of water quality. This analysis has submitted be more appropriate when used in river scale as a whole, but not isolated segments.

Safety and Ergonomics Risk Assessment (SERA): A Customized Ergonomics Assessment Tool for Automobile Manufacturing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Snell ◽  
Arman Dehghani ◽  
Fabian Guenkzkofer ◽  
Stefan Kaltenbrunner
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Scientific Methods ◽  
Automobile Manufacturing ◽  
International Reporting ◽  
Database Implementation ◽  
And Training

Musculoskeletal disorders continue to be a leading source of lost workdays across all industries. Common ergonomics assessment tools may include criteria extraneous to the stresses at specific companies or industries. Therefore, the creation of assessment tools, based on scientifically validated methods, with industry- or company-specific stresses may be of benefit. The BMW Group has developed the Safety and Ergonomics Risk Assessment (SERA) tool. This ergonomics assessment method incorporates the most up-to-date scientific methods and international standards, and is used worldwide in all production facilities of the BMW Group. As noted above, a major advantage of SERA over conventional ergonomics tools is the focus on ergonomics stresses common to automobile manufacturing and the consequent exclusion of irrelevant parameters, thereby reducing the time, effort, and training required for workplace assessments. Other advantages include the international uniformity of assessments and a web- and database-implementation allowing for easily comparable international reporting. The implementation of this method at the BMW Group has enabled a greater transparency for ergonomics across all international plants, and more effective and targeted ergonomics interventions. This publication will outline the basic motivation for SERA, highlight the relevant scientific sources and international standards, and general steps of an evaluation.

scholarly journals Verification with the utility of an established rapid assessment of brain safety for newly developed vaccines

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwang-Ho Kim ◽  
Sun Shin Yi
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Foot And Mouth Disease ◽  
Vaccine Safety ◽  
International Standards ◽  
First Century ◽  
Safety Testing ◽  
Live Vaccines ◽  
Safety Test ◽  
The Brain

AbstractIn the twenty-first century, high contagious infectious diseases such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), FMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) and AI (Avian Influenza) have become very prevalent, causing treat harm to humans and animals in aspect of public health, and economical issues. The critical problem is that newly-reported infectious diseases that humans firstly experience are expected to continue to emerge, and these diseases will be spreading out rapidly. Therefore, rapid and safe supplies of effective vaccines are most pivotal to prevent the rapid prevalent of new infection, but international standards or assessing protocol the safety of urgent vaccines are not established well. In our previous study, since we established a module to assess the brain safety of urgent vaccines, therefore, it is necessary to verify that this established module for assessing brain safety could work effectively in commercially available two vaccines (one killed- and on live-vaccines). We compared the results of Evans blue (EB) assay and qPCR analysis by injection of two kinds of vaccines, PBS and Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) under the condition of the module previously reported. We confirmed that the brain safety test module for urgent vaccine we established is very reproducible. Therefore, it is believed that this vaccine safety testing method can be used to validate brain safety when prompt supply of a newly developed vaccines is needed.

Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of depression in an elderly population living with family members in Beijing, China

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (12) ◽  
pp. 1723-1730 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Ma ◽  
Y.-T. Xiang ◽  
S.-R. Li ◽  
Y.-Q. Xiang ◽  
H.-L. Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Lifetime Prevalence ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Sociodemographic Correlates ◽  
Beijing China

BackgroundTo date, there has been no large-scale survey of geriatric depression (GD) involving both rural and urban areas in China using standardized assessment tools and diagnostic criteria. This study aimed to determine the 12-month and lifetime prevalence rates of GD and sociodemographic correlates in urban and rural regions of Beijing, China.MethodA total of 1601 elderly patients (aged ⩾60 years) were randomly selected and interviewed in Beijing using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI 1.0). Basic sociodemographic and clinical data were also collected during the interviews.ResultsThe overall 12-month prevalence of GD was 4.33%, and the 12-month prevalence rates for men and women were 2.65% and 5.83% respectively. The overall lifetime prevalence of GD was 7.83%, and lifetime prevalence rates for men and women were 4.65% and 10.66% respectively. Female sex, lower educational level, monthly income, rural abode, and the presence of one or more major medical conditions were associated with increased risk of GD. Of the GD subjects interviewed, 25.2% were receiving some type of treatment, with only 4.7% preferring to seek treatment from mental health professionals.ConclusionsAlthough still relatively low by international standards, there is an increasing trend in the prevalence of GD in China. The low percentage of subjects treated for GD is a major public health concern that should be addressed urgently.

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